My grandson recently started eating new foods. Mommy and Daddy are giving him things like blueberries, strawberries, bananas, and mango. He likes them along with yogurt.
In order for Baby J to try new things, his parents needed to let him make a mess. That got me thinking about how like life this is. When we try new things, the odds are we may not be good at it - at least at first. We may make a big mess before we get the hang of things and learn how to do them better or easier. But do we let that stop us from experiencing new things, starting new relationships, having new adventures? I hope not.
Think about knitting. I know that people who knit have to pull out stitches, especially as they work on more complicated patterns. But the end result is so worth it. Someone would not have the enjoyment of the finished product if they simply gave up.
Then there is cooking. My 10-year-old granddaughter likes to cook. She will never get better if we insist the kitchen stays clean while she cooks. We can make sure she cleans up afterwards, but we need not squelch her enthusiasm by making all stages of the process be neat and tidy. Plus, we enjoy eating the end results!
What holds us back as adults? Most likely negative self-talk. We tell ourselves we won’t be good at it. What if someone doesn’t like what we do? What if we mess up?
Hockey player Wayne Gretzky is well known for saying, “The only shot I ALWAYS miss is the one I don’t take!”
Let me encourage you to try something new or do something you have put off doing. Have you been meaning to call a friend or write a note of encouragement? Do it! Have you always wanted to try painting? Do it is you are physically able. Can you try a new walking path? If you only read fiction books, have you considered reading a non-fiction book about a topic that interests you? Perhaps you could start a book club.
I encourage you to not let self-doubt hold you back. Take the shot! Pick one new thing you can do to make your heart joy-filled.
Continued blessings,
Diane