Paralyzed by Perfectionism

I'm still reading, observing, and planning, but I'm not doing any real gardening.  I've realized I'm about to get stuck in the same trap I end up in every time I decide to start working on a garden.  I have this idea planted somewhere deep in my subconscious that until conditions are perfect I cannot begin a new project. This would explain why, in 20 years, all I've done is think about gardening.

I have this fear that I will plant something or dig something up and it will end up not fitting into the big picture.  In other words, I'm afraid I'll make a mistake. Crazy, huh?  I think we all do this to some degree, but I am deeply entrenched in this perfectionistic paralysis. 

Every year I think about putting a little color in my yard.  I want to put together pretty planters with beautiful flowers that I can enjoy, but I tell myself I can't do that because I have an ugly deck that's falling apart.  I tell myself that I can't put something beautiful on top of something that makes me cringe when I look at it.

Well, today I decided I certainly can put something beautiful anywhere I like, and that maybe that beauty will spread, and a little instant gratification is always nice too.

Gold Breeze Miscanthus, Sunny Dark Florence African Daisy, Fortunia Purple Fairy Bell Petunia