J.R.R. Tolkien - It's the job that's never started as takes longest to finish

Welcome to the Daily Quote – a podcast designed to kickstart your day in a positive way. I'm your host, Andrew McGivern, for September 22nd.Today is Hobbit Day, and if you're not familiar with this delightful celebration, you're in for a treat. September 22nd marks the shared birthday of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins, two of the most beloved characters from J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth saga. According to Tolkien's fictional timeline, both hobbits were born on this date – Bilbo in the year 2890 of the Third Age, and his nephew Frodo in 2968.The American Tolkien Society first proclaimed Hobbit Day in 1978, and it's celebrated as part of Tolkien Week. What makes this holiday special is that it honors not just these fictional characters, but the values they represent: courage in the face of overwhelming odds, the importance of friendship, and the power of ordinary people to do extraordinary things.Hobbits, as Tolkien described them, are simple folk who love comfort, good food, and peaceful lives. Yet when adventure calls, they prove that heroism isn't about size or strength – it's about heart, determination, and doing what's right, even when it's difficult.Today's quote comes from J.R.R. Tolkien himself, who wrote:"It's the job that's never started as takes longest to finish."Tolkien's observation captures something fundamental about both his hobbit characters and our own lives. Throughout "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings," we see characters facing seemingly impossible tasks – destroying a powerful ring, reclaiming a mountain kingdom, or simply getting home safely.What makes hobbits such compelling heroes is that they don't overthink these challenges. They don't spend weeks planning or waiting for perfect conditions. Bilbo leaves his comfortable hobbit-hole with nothing but the clothes on his back when adventure knocks. Frodo accepts the burden of the Ring and sets off, knowing the journey will be perilous but understanding that someone must begin.Tolkien understood that the biggest obstacle to any quest – whether it's writing a novel, changing careers, or simply organizing your closet – is often the reluctance to take that first step. We delay, we plan, we wait for the right moment, and meanwhile, the job that's never started continues to loom over us.The wisdom of hobbits is in their willingness to begin, even when they can't see the end of the road. They trust that the path will reveal itself as they walk it.So today, channel your inner hobbit and think about Tolkien's wisdom. What job in your life has been taking longest to finish simply because you haven't started it yet?Maybe it's that conversation you've been putting off. Maybe it's the creative project gathering dust in your mind. Maybe it's the small home repair that's been on your to-do list for months. Maybe it's reaching out to reconnect with an old friend.You don't need a perfect plan or ideal conditions. Like Bilbo and Frodo, you just need the courage to take that first step out your door and trust that the adventure will unfold as it should.That's going to do it for today. May your Adventures be epic and your second breakfasts plentiful. I'm Andrew McGivern, signing off for now. But I'll be back tomorrow. Same pod time, same pod station - with another Daily Quote.