You know that thing you've been meaning to do?

Maybe it’s finally scheduling that appointment. Or starting that project you’ve talked about for months. Or maybe it’s something you actually want to do — like taking a walk, signing up for the class, calling that friend back, or organizing that pile of photos you’ve been holding onto for years.

And yet… you don’t do it.

Why is that?

I ask myself this more often than I care to admit. I’ll feel that internal nudge — This would be good for you. This would feel amazing to finish. This is aligned with the life you want. And instead, I scroll. I clean out the junk drawer. I tell myself I’ll do it tomorrow when I feel more motivated, more rested, more prepared.

For me, that “thing” has been organizing my own family photos — all the digital files and prints I’ve collected over the years. As a photographer, I’m constantly capturing memories for other people. But when it comes to my own photos? They’ve been sitting on hard drives, in scattered folders, and in boxes I keep meaning to open “when I have time.”

And I’ve wanted to do this for years.
I think about how special it would be to have our family memories organized and easy to enjoy. To have albums I can flip through with my kids. To know that our stories are preserved.

But every time I thought about starting, it felt too big. Too overwhelming. Where do I even begin with thousands of photos from a dozen different years?

A few weeks ago, I finally sat down with a friend and started.

We didn’t finish the whole project in one day — not even close. But we made a plan. We laughed. We cried over old baby photos. We made progress. And for the first time, this big, scary task feels doable. Even kind of fun.

And it reminded me: it’s rarely about laziness or lack of desire.

It’s often fear, perfectionism, or overwhelm wearing a very convincing disguise.

Sometimes we don’t start because we’re afraid we won’t do it well. Sometimes because we know the task will stretch us, force us to grow, or bring up big feelings. Sometimes we avoid because the mental load is just too much, and we’re tapped out before we even begin.

And sometimes? It’s just really hard to show up for ourselves in a world that constantly pulls at our time, our energy, and our attention.

But I’m learning to meet myself with more grace in those moments.

To ask gentle questions instead of throwing shame at myself.

What am I afraid of here?
What would make this feel 10% easier?
What’s the tiniest first step I can take?

Sometimes, that small shift is enough to crack the door open. And once it’s open — even just a little — the momentum builds.

So if you’re in that place right now, feeling frustrated that you aren’t doing the thing, know this: you’re not alone. You’re not broken. And you’re not lazy.

You’re human.

And each time you pause, breathe, and take one small step forward — even if it’s imperfect, even if it’s messy — you’re building trust with yourself.

That counts.

That’s the work.

P.S. If organizing your photos has been on your list too — whether they’re on your phone, your computer, or hidden away in boxes — let this be your gentle nudge to start. Even five minutes counts. And if you need help turning your digital images into something you can hold in your hands and cherish, I’d love to help you make it happen.