First steps

The writing is a springboard.

An aeroplane takes off. At the start it's anxious and there is a lot of emotion. A huge effort and then that charge down the runway. Single-mindedness takes over. Don't look left or right because there's nothing to look at over there.

There's absolutely nothing to see.

The aeroplane, it pitches forward, roaring loudly, racing its engines, gunning, its wings strained. And when its wheels can bear no more, it closes its virtual eyes, curling its toes down as though pushing into the ground, straining its neck, arching its back and bending its wings to collect air from under it. And it overpowers gravity. Pulls up into the sky. Doesn't look down but stares right up into the sky. And it keep staring and staring upwards as though, by looking down it might lose its momentum. Its afraid that perhaps it isn't moving up as far and as fast as it should be. But it feels satisfied because soon its enveloped by the clouds. and it relaxes a bit and draws into the comfort of the puffy cumulus.

And it is now confident, that the hardest part of the journey has been completed.

Staring at the blank page the writer not knowing what word to put down, perhaps just a cough to get started.

The artist too stares at the blank page, her brushes neatly arranged beside her, her paints awaiting her command.

The teacher, the mentor, the parent, the coach having the knowledge, yet not knowing what words to start the conversation that the journey may begin. That the knowledge may be imparted, layer by layer, each successive piece fitting perfectly like a Lego block, or a piece of a jigsaw puzzle.