One of the things that frustrates me about myself is I'm afraid to try new things. I don't mean a new dinner at a restaurant or a different route home but a new project. Usually what happens is I get an idea, I'm excited about it....and then I think. And think. And think more and more, hoping that if I think long enough I'll get the idea just right so that when I actually do it, there's nothing that could possibly go wrong. Well, of course, something inevitably goes wrong and I tell myself it's okay because I thought as long as I could.
Example: I've been planning a quiet book for a year or two now. I've drawn designs for the pages, bought fabric and notions but I can't make myself actually sit down and sew. I know I'm going to make lots of mistakes and get frustrated.
But why can't I just try something without thinking for so long and not care if it doesn't turn out well? I've decided to do better, so here's my latest project: piano lessons!
I'm no concert pianist but I know enough that I can teach a beginner. I thought about it for a few weeks and then took the plunge and asked friends if their son would take lessons. They said yes and today we met for the first time. I remembered how much I like teaching children and using a part of my brain that I haven't in a while, even having kids.
I've also thought about taking a quilting class for a long time but hadn't signed up because of some silly excuse. Now I've decided there will never be a convenient time so I picked a date anyway and it's going to be fine.
I hope this motivation will last a while and I can get more things accomplished instead of adding to the list of Things to Do or for me, Things to Think About.
6 comments:
I hope that your quilting class is fabulous. I took some last summer after being inspired by the Elm Creek quilt books by Jennifer Chiaverini. They are brilliant! Good luck in your class! I'm pretty darn sure that you will love it!
Man I wish we lived closer to you guys so that Shay could take piano lessons. I bet you're an awesome teacher.
I'm guessing you are analytical. I am, but maybe not to the point as you. I expect imperfection (that's kinda sad now that I think of it. I don't expect my prodjects to come out perfect. Anyways.....) I've often thought about this when it comes to getting things done because I get caught up in all the details of it while Chad can get a list of things he has to do done soooo much faster than me. I don't think there's anything wrong with thinking about it, but yeah you eventually got to get to it. Good luck in your class. WE miss seeing you guys so often.
Oh and Chad told me he gave you those movie tickets. I never checked to see which movie theater they were for, but I remember someone giving us tickets to one and we had to come all the way up to the foothills mall to use them. Soooooo if that's the case CALL ME to watch your kids. I'm happy to do it.
Way to go with the piano lessons. What a perfect way to use your talent of playing and teaching together!I wish I could learn to play piano. I took classes when I was little but then I got distracted with sports and now I can't play anything at all.
I think we are very similar when it comes to trying new things. Since you have taken steps to learn and do something new, I should follow you and think of something as well!
You're further than I am on the quiet book thing. I have so many ideas I've been putting together since Noah was born, but I haven't even started to write them down or buy supplies so good for you on that one. I really think it's a mom thing to put all the other stuff first, but it's nice when we squeeze in some stuff for ourselves.
That's so cool that you're teaching piano lessons! How fun!! I think I would freak out because A) I'm not good at the piano at all!! and B) I don't know how to teach little kids and keep them interested in what they're learning. So way to go! I'm excited to see your quiet book, too. That is so awesome. Allen teases me because he'll just decide to do something and go for it right then but I have to sit and think through all of the possible scenarios for doing something before I actually start. I like to "research" and think it through so I can do it the best way. It's a curse sometimes, but what can a girl do? :)
Good for you! I have been thinking lately about doing piano lesons, too-- I get scared but then I think, WHY? What books are you using to teach the beginners?
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