Start Smart.

“There is no chapter more important than your first chapter, no page more important than your first page and no line more important than your first line.”

Marci Wernick, Literary Agent

Quote cred goes to Marcia Wernick of the Wernick Pratt Literary Agency. There are few truer words. This applies to writing, of course, but I couldn’t help but think how much it applies to life. And how much it applies to TODAY…right now, as we “start” to reopen…as we write a new book and begin the first chapter.

Listen, I am not saying first impressions are everything. We’ve all had a rough go at those sometimes. And I’m certainly guilty of making some initial assumptions about people, which completely changed after I got to know them better.

And clearly there are more important chapters of our lives than the first one we lived – pooping in our pants and spitting up mashed bananas. I would hope most of us have gotten further along in our later chapters.  

BUT – I think it more so applies to life in this way: how we start out anything, is sometimes everything. Even if we’re 92 years old and want to start our own company, anything is possible if we start it the right way. If we’re not on the right foot from the beginning, we’re going to trip the entire way. I do believe If we’re not doing it correctly from the start, if we’re trying to take an easy way out, or if we’re simply not being kind and fair, we won’t get very far. If we’re trying to cheat, the only one we’re really cheating is ourselves. Our first chapter, our first page, our first line – we must write it right. (Oh, see what I did there? I tied this back to the name of this site “Melissa Makes It Write”… 😊)

So, today, I think this quote REALLY applies. We are all beginning the much-anticipated start of reopening, of getting back to our lives, and starting a new normalcy. What we do now – as we begin the first chapter, the first page, the very first word –  will heavily impact how we proceed and where we will find ourselves in the chapters that lay ahead. Let’s continue to think about that. Let’s think about that right now, BEFORE we enter the next stage, preparing for our restart and restoring. We have a fresh start. A heavy reminder to respect people’s boundaries,  appreciate one another’s presence, and to for God’s sake WASH OUR HANDS.

And so as we can actually get out and begin new beginnings…

Whatever you are starting, or thinking about starting…start it. But start it sizzling. Do the right thing. Do not skip ahead to chapter 5…we need to take the proper precautions and respect chapter 1. But do not be afraid. Go in hot. Go all in. Commit to the dream. Dedicate yourself to the want. Be passionate about your passion.

Start your own business. But build that first chapter on good bones.

Open a new door of opportunity. But paginate your plan and walk through prepared.

Give that person you’ve been wanting to connect with a call or send them a text. Heck, maybe even see them in person, soon. But make your first line shine who you truly are.

And if you’re not doing any of that, that’s OK, too. Just start your day out strong. I don’t care if it’s with a strong ambition, a strong will to do something new, a strong hug (yay- we can maybe start doing this!), or just a really strong cup of coffee. Do something bold. And be bold from the beginning.

It’s your story. Write it right, rite from the start.

And let’s not mess this up, humans.