I haven’t written in a while… oops! First… happy August! It’s kind of hard to believe that these summer months have passed by so quickly. The saying “the days take forever but the years fly by,” really does hold true. Reflecting on these past few months, I have had a really wonderful summer with so much time and space to pursue projects that are meaningful to me.
Having so much more time in my days has given me the opportunity to explore new hobbies. When I was younger, I remember spending hours sitting on the floor writing stories, coloring, building things, and essentially just finding things to do.
Unfortunately, once you reach a certain age, it can be quite hard to find time to pursue a hobby or a creative project when there’s work and school and other responsibilities to tend to.
Before this summer, I didn’t realize how long it had been since I’d had so much idle time. I was actually looking for things to do again like I used to.
I was finally able to clean out my closet, test all of my old markers and pens, and go through the pile of clutter that had been sitting around for years. And pictured above, I was able to find a creative way to patch the jeans that had been sitting untouched because of an unintentional rip.
I’ve never sewn or embroidered before, so starting this project was a fun thing to figure out. Personally, I feel that I tend to over-research things which creates friction when starting projects. I get worried about efficiency and materials and quality and whatnot, and then I end up not starting at all.
But for this, I decided that the stakes were low and I should just give it my best shot and figure it out along the way. It was honestly so refreshing going into something with a “beginner’s mindset.” I took my embroidery project similar to how young kids approach new tasks — just giving it a go and seeing what sticks. There were definitely mistakes made, stitches that had to be cut out, and parts that I had to re-sew entirely. But I learned from these mistakes and found new ways to make it even better. More importantly, I realized that I could start something from scratch, solve the various problems I ran into, and ultimately create something unique that I could be proud of.
Through my quick embroidery stints, I’ve started to think about my reliance on external sources to solve problems and start new things.
With so many answers readily available on the internet, I’ve gotten used to doing at least some research before starting any project. I rarely let myself just go into something blindly, because that would mean there’s a higher chance of failure. But I’m slowly learning that more information is not necessarily always better.
Whether it’s patchwork on jeans or trying to create better life habits, watching videos, reading articles, and listening to podcasts will all make you feel like you know more. But truth is? There is nothing like learning through experience.
Even more, what works for someone else might not be what works for you. Sometimes, just diving in and figuring it out along the way is the best thing you can do. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do ANY research, but don’t let getting lost in other people’s experiences stop you from creating your own. And who knows — you may have just found your favorite new hobby!
Love,
Leah
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