Beginnings Are Fragile Things
"You can learn to be or do anything
in life if you are willing to be a beginner.
If you actually learn to like
being a beginner, a whole
world of creative possibilities
open up to you"
Anonymous
I think beginning something new takes a lot of courage. Especially these days, when people are used to attaining what they desire quickly. It wasn't always so, and I believe that is important to remember.
When I think of beginnings I often remember a friend I had back in my twenties. She was a young married woman who dreamed of having a beautiful flower garden. She had her garden planned, in her mind, down to the smallest detail. Yet, she never planted. Not one single flower.
I asked her why, and she said, "I am afraid to plant, because what if my garden does not grow and it is not as beautiful as the one I have pictured in my mind? I don't want to lose my dream!"
I have thought about this experience at times throughout my whole life and have come to this conclusion: it is far, far less painful to begin, than it is to hold something beautiful bottled up inside us. Like a flower that needs the sunshine, creative desires will wither away without action.
Beginnings are fragile things and we must care for them and love them for what they are. Beginnings are never perfect and nor should they be. Beginnings are about practice. Practice does not need to make perfect, but practice does make something. And that something will lead to another something and then another.
What a good feeling it is to make progress with one's dream, and when that happens, we never regret beginning. So to all those who may be dreaming of learning something new whatever it is, find joy in your wonky granny squares, your one missed stitch that unravels 10 rows of knitting, or your half burned cookies. Begin the dream and the skill will follow.
Very lovely sentiments and oh so true. Many of us have had to have new beginnings because of loss in our lives. It is not fun, it can be overwhelming, and it can turn out wonderfully as well. Failure in life, means you are trying - and that is good. Keep using chances to change and grow.
ReplyDeleteI came by to return the blog visit and thank you for the great comment you left on mine.
ReplyDeleteOne of the best lessons I've learned from homesteading is to consider every new project an experiment. This helps so much when things don't go as expected! As an experiment, I am free to analyze the problem and make corrections. With nature that is seasonal and can take years! But I learn a lot in the process.
How apt is the quote at the top of this page.
ReplyDeleteYour blog title, 'Dances with yarn" sure applies to me, because at present, I am trying to make something out of all the small skeins of wool that I made in a recent 'learn to spin' class. Learning new stuff keeps one's brain alive. Interesting to see that you also are interested in fibre.
Thank you for visiting my blog and commenting.
ReplyDeleteWe must keep practicing and learning. That is how our brains continue to function.
In my Ohio garden, I am certainly practicing and learning--mostly from mistakes. That's okay. It's still beautiful.
Same with knitting. Did I make a mistake? Well, I can just tink it and reknit it.
One comment I often say to my grandkids when they mention something they messed up. "What did you learn from that?"
Have a wonderful day in Georgia! Stay safe if you will be impacted by Isaias.