Beginner Skills

I recall years ago, my daughter asked me to make her a pair of slippers. Not just any slippers mind you. Rather, she had a pair of lightweight leather slippers that she had literally worn the soles off. Could I use her pair as a pattern and make her another?

I didn't recall ever having worked with leather before. What the heck? It's sewing... and leather is a material...

"Sure, I can try," I said. "How hard can it be?"

When I was done, I was satisfied with the result and made a pair for myself as well. These I showed to a friend.

"Haha, nice girl scout project," she snarked. I felt rather embarrassed and shrugged it off, laughing. She didn't mean to hurt, she thought her comment funny.

That moment has turned over in my mind for years.

I tell you this now to remind myself. There will be naysayers in my life. In your life. Intentional or not, those words can at times stop us from our creativity. Most of us care what others think of us and putting that aside can prove difficult.

Me learning how to knit...

It helps to remember we all learned skills when we were young.

Whether in school or other groups, we learned about art and colors and creativity. And each year thereafter, through classes or organizations, we are exposed to a little more of the creative process... drawing and writing and researching and doing. If I haven't practiced a skill since I was ten, sometimes it's difficult to remember. (This is when I love technology!) And it's difficult to show anyone else for fear of embarrassing myself.

Me learning how to draw...

It took me years of practice to become proficient at crochet. Why do I think, why does anyone think, that we can do something for a day or a week or a month and do it with the same finesse as something we have been doing for years?

One of my biggest stumbling blocks? I often want others' approval. I think we all feel some of that. People who think they cannot create are often worried others (or themselves) will think it's not good enough.

Me learning how to paint watercolor...

Putting aside comments people say can be one of the most difficult things we, as creatives, can ever do.

Nearly every time I try something new to me, I have to remind myself the worse thing that can happen is I look silly. And I keep trying new things. And I keep looking silly. And it's okay.

I have to give myself permission to take time and be a beginner.

The slippers? In looking back, they were amateurish. They looked like something a twelve-year-old had made.

As a first leather project, they were darn good. I still have them... and have nearly worn the soles off.