Overwhelming Imagination!

I have a serious issue:

In a matter of minutes, I can create a list of projects that would take me a full year to complete, if I were working on them full-time, instead of going to my current job full-time.  Does this mean that it's time for me to retire?  Seriously-- I am cursed with the ability to imagine amazing and outlandish creations that may never actually exist in reality.  I feel like an imprisoned, constipated artist, who may never actually have the time, confidence, and courage to pursue my full potential as an artist/musician/builder/etc.  These great ideas I continue to imagine might just live in my mind for eternity!  Why?  Well, here's my excuse list...

I'm married and have two daughters (7- and 3-years old) with a 3rd child on the way.  I work full-time as a middle school music teacher and play in a band.  I guess the excuse list isn't that substantial, but it's there, nonetheless.  A life coach or organizational professional would probably tell me to simplify my life and work on one project until it's complete, to avoid getting overwhelmed.  And also to get a sense of accomplishment by celebrating small victories, one at a time.   But, there's only one very serious problem with that suggestion:  it's not me.  I've never been able to do that and would never want to do that.  It's just not in my DNA.  I'm a thinker and I LOVE to imagine.  The only issue is that I don't have the time to pursue all of the ideas I'm constantly dreaming up.  Take this blog, for example.  I started the blog to write about my newest project:  the renovation and resurrection of a motorcycle I purchased in the summer of 1996.  This past winter vacation (January 2015) I disassembled the entire carburetor, front brake caliper, and brake lines, with the goal of having the bike put back together in ride-able condition by March of this year.  But, as soon as my vacation was over, I stopped working on the bike and my carburetor is still sitting on the workbench in the garage, waiting for me to give it the TLC it needs.   And, with every thing else in my life that demands attention, Yamaha Maxim probably isn't going to be getting any until my next vacation in July!

So, what else did I add to my plate?  A complete renovation of the backyard which will include a play structure for the kids, a firepit, a 10-gallon all-grain homebrewing setup, and the purchase of 11 hops rhizomes that need to be planted 3-5 ft. apart from each other ASAP.  So, yeah, I overwhelmed myself again by pursuing all of the wonderful ideas created by my mind (and my wife's!) over the past several months!

I know it's all going to work out, but it would be nice at some point in my life if I were able to pursue all of these crazy ideas full-time.  Unfortunately, the world doesn't work that way.  For some, I guess it does.  But, for me, I have accepted my current role as a suppressed artist being tortured by the lack of time to create.  I keep looking at that excuse list and wondering if it's actually valid.  Maybe I should stop writing this blog and start pursuing one of the ideas on my list!!!