I have been thinking lately that I am really good at a lot of things. I don't normally say things like that. I normally fret over everything I do, convinced that it is utter rubbish, even as people tell me it is wonderful. This applies to pretty much everything I do; cooking, writing, sewing, designing, and anything else I do on a regular basis. I promise though, there are some things I just really do not excel at.
I come from a very hands on creative family. Growing up there was nothing we didn't try to do. Make homemade paper out of dryer lint? Easy. Make homemade candles? Not a problem. Build walls one afternoon? Nothing to it. Make flower arrangements that would shame Martha Stewart? Isn't that a typical Sunday for you?
Pick a craft project and my mother probably attempted to do it with me in tow. We made birdhouses, stained glass, glass etchings, decopage, paper mache, and all sorts of things that I can't even remember at this point. She was amazing at all of it. My mother is one of those crafty sort of people. It might take her a couple of tries, but eventually she always figures it out.
Me on the other hand, not so much. I have the vision, but I often times lack in the execution. For example mosaic. Yea that was an experiment that ended up with me having a lot of tiny glass tiles that went to waste. Anything that involves extensive sculpting has proven to be a particularly large downfall of mine, much to my own disappointment. Knitting and crocheting were fairly unsuccessful as well.
It is not like I tried once, failed, and gave up. Oh no, not me. My mother didn't raise a quitter, especially in the realm of crafts. No I tried and tried. I got books, I had people show me, I made attempt after attempt, and in the end I always failed. My mosaic work looked like something a 6 year old would do with macaroni, my sculpting attempts look like misshapen replicas of the Elephant Man, and my knitting looks...well lumpy is a polite way to put it.
I am alright with my failures though. No one is perfect, including me. I will admit to my strengths; I can make beautiful clothes, I can cook you an amazing meal, and I can write you some entertaining stories. Just don't expect me to knit you a scarf to keep warm.
I know all the words to all the songs on the radio (except the country stations, unless it's 1994 again)
ReplyDeleteIf you're stuck at my house with only me to cook, you won't starve or anything. I have lots of books and I can DO recipes.
I can take cute pictures of cupcakes on the internet and make them into a reality.
I sing. And people like it... which still pretty much BLOWS MY MIND
But I can't knit, crochet, sew, lift heavy things, dance with skill (unless it's flaily club dancing), can or jar jams, jellies, chutneys, fruit, pickles or anything else edible, take decent photographs, remember to call people or not put my foot in my mouth.
I knit, crochet, spin, dance, write, cook and bake, but I can't sing at all, and I'm not a great people person.
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