I have come across this time and again, in everything from sculpting, drawing, and wood working right through to cooking and writing short blurbs daily. When you can afford to not give a shit about the end product, and focus solely on the process and the actual ‘doing’ of the thing, stuff tends to fall into place after a while. It’s not fool proof, and mastery is never guaranteed (not that I seek mastery of any one thing anyway.) If you can fall in love, or at least in-line with the process you can usually achieve a fairly high standard in that medium once you really start to apply yourself, and add in a little reflection or introspection about how you operate within the process, and how you’ve come to understand the process. Mayhaps, like myself, you achieve better results though you make the wrong choices. Enough of them that they cancel out and you get a little better at the thing you work at inspite of yourself, or your failings, and short comings.
I do love to watch YouTube videos about the hobbies I have, and I tell myself I’m learning about it as I watch others ‘do the thing’. I have, learned a thing or two, but mostly it’s an escape from working and learning deeper about the process of whatever I’m attempting. Videos aren’t bad, there is a tonne of noise and needless entertainment there, but don’t get carried away. You will certainly learn more by just going and ‘doing the thing’. A morale boost is great if that keeps you going. But try not to mire yourself in a YouTube video rabbit hole, you’ll loose hours of your time that way.
I’m no expert, and this is solely based on my personal anecdotal experiences. Your experiences may differ – greatly – from mine own. But that’s ok. We’re not all one size fits all.
In alternate news I had put my workout regimen on hold for five to six weeks this summer, which I now regret. I was creeping closer to 200lbs, getting under 2 bills was my goal, and I was roughly three pounds from it, but now I’m back to being about 10lbs from my goal. Ideally I’d reach 185lbs, but I think that will require not just a shift in picking up weights regularly, but fundamentally eating better. I’d rather run, cycle, swim and lift weights every day than go back to a veggie heavy diet. Wreaks havoc with my insides. My ulcerated bowel does not enjoy excess roughage, like at all. Too much dairy in a day – forget about it. It’s a tricky see-saw balance act. But in the end I’d like to work towards being under 200 lbs again. I need to revisit my plan. Perhaps to back to two a days with the weights, and add in more lunges, squats, sit-ups, and push ups. Like everything else. It’s not about perfect, but doing some of it, everyday, even if it’s ugly and unrefined. Ha. Yes, unrefined is a great way to view myself in a workout session. Just look at how skewed my sunglasses are. Unrefined fits me well. Ha!
Now I need to have breakfast and get ready to start my work day clock. Ciao Bella!
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