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Encouraging you to just do it
June 25, 2008 at 12:34 Thanks for all the comments on my last post and my journey into painting. I hope that by putting myself and my art out there, I'll encourage some of you to try that "thing" you've always been interested in but either didn't think you had the talent for or didn't have the time to pursue it. Maybe it's some genre of art or cooking or photography or creative writing or gardening or geneaology or history or sewing or quilting or knitting or carpentry or woodworking or working on cars or something else altogether.
I think everyone has "something" that bubbles up and keeps being pushed down by circumstances or self-doubt. Pay attention to that secret wish that keeps bobbing up to the surface and pluck it out of the water and give it life. Don't let your dream drown and become your secret sorrow, your private regret.
Dare to try something new or reacquaint yourself with an old love. Allow yourself to be mediocre at something so you can learn to get better at it. It's a cliche, but we have to risk failure to succeed, and risking failure and judgement is hard. Those who are very successful in some area of life don't like to start at the bottom with a new enterprise. Those who have fragile self-confidence don't want to be criticized and have any more negative voices joining the chorus in their head. I am both those people!
I have to constantly push myself to step out of my comfort zone, to remake my image of myself, to see a different person than the one I've been conditioned to see. We have to be willing to make compost out of some of our old ideas about ourselves and fertilize new growth.
Where to start? Try your local community recreation center. It's been a great gateway for my journey into art. The classes are not too expensive and encourage people to come as they are--with whatever level of interest, skill, or talent they have. There's a time and place for you to explore new territory--dare to find it, dare to just do it, dare to do it badly and improve.
(What hobby/interest would you like to pursue?)
June 25, 2008
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Reader Comments (5)
There are some other things on my ecclectic "bucket list" but these are the top 7.
When I started http://antwerp.wordpress.com I did not set out to immerse the world with yet another controversial blog (well, 'an ever so slightly confusing blog" might have described it better).
But I found that posting in a language that isn't mine (English is only my 3rd) was a challenge that proved very satisfying.
I took my chances (I could have ended up flat on my face) but it worked: 1,000 daily visitors do read my meandering thoughts, watch my pictures and even start heated discussions. Even a one liner about a nipple proved successful :-)
You know, that's what I like most about Americans: the "yes you can" attitude.
Many Belgians cherish a "maybe, tomorrow, if the sky turns green" attitude, like you may have noticed during your Belgian years.
Kudos to you for fervently pursuing your creative side! Thanks so much for sharing your explorations and delightful results with us!