Joyless or Joyful

What’s one of the most annoying things that drives you insane?

For me, it’s laziness.
Closely followed by overcommitting and underdelivering.

I understand that everyone has a stubborn lazy streak sometimes — I do too. The difference is, I still push forward until the job is done. I might kick and scream the whole way, but it gets finished. Rest comes after completion.

Some people, though, don’t have a lazy streak.
They have a lazy lifestyle.

I’m the kind of person who works until the task is complete. I don’t float from idea to idea. I don’t abandon ship halfway through and pretend it was never my boat to begin with.

But you know that person.

The one who shows up with “the idea.”
They pitch it to you like a car salesman pushing the last vehicle on the lot:

“This is going to be amazing.”
“This is such a great opportunity.”
“We’re really going to help people with this.”

And you believe them.

Midway through the project, though, something changes. The brainiac behind the grand idea slowly fades into the background. Meanwhile, you’re working feverishly, trying to carry the weight of a vision that was never fully yours.

Suddenly it feels like the rapture happened — and they are nowhere to be found.

You look around and realize it’s just you…
and maybe one other poor soul who also got sucked into the abyss.

Then comes the real kicker.

The Grand Idea Producer has already moved on to their next shiny venture.
A new web.
A new trap.
A fresh group of unsuspecting helpers.

People get pulled in like flies stuck to spun silk.

Don’t fall for it.
Run if you can.

I’ve tried to walk away from things before. I really have. But I struggle with leaving loose ends untied. If I commit, I finish. If I start something, I see it through. I can’t just abandon people midstream.

But I’ll be honest — sometimes I wonder how those idea-generators live with themselves. How do you pitch passion and then disappear when it’s time to work?

Sit down already.

I’ve lost too much time over the years thinking I was “helping,” only to realize I was propping up someone else’s pattern of inconsistency. The joke was on me.

My internal switch of aggravation flips quickly when I encounter non-productive people. So I’m choosing to protect my peace. I will no longer get spun into someone else’s web of fury.

One of my favorite sayings still rings painfully true:

“We are the unwilling, led by the unqualified, doing the unnecessary for the ungrateful.”

Save your time.
Save your energy.
Work on your ideas — at your pace — on your schedule.

Proverbs 13:4
“The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing;
But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.”

A sluggard (lazy person) can want all the things.
They can dream, plan, and talk a good game.
But without action, desire produces nothing.

Diligence builds.
Faithfulness finishes.
And discipline protects your sanity.

I’m done being a side character in someone else’s unfinished story.