The more I return to my love of painting, the more I think about this:
There’s a weird adult pressure to turn every interest into a skill we need to master.
You love gardening? Become a gardener.
You like painting? Make good art.
You’re curious about herbalism? Know your herbs.
You tried something once? Apparently now you need a whole identity around it.
What happened to having a hobby?
What happened to doing something because it feels good, makes you curious, or gives you something to look forward to?
What if some things are allowed to remain delightfully mediocre?
You can suck at something and still love doing it.
I think we’ve gotten a little carried away with the idea that everything we do needs to lead somewhere.
Learn something → become good at it.
Get good at it → monetize it.
Monetize it → build a brand.
Build a brand → teach other people how to do it.
For the love of God, can we not?
Maybe you can just make the pottery.
Maybe it looks terrible.
Maybe the bowl is slightly crooked and holds approximately three almonds.
Congratulations. You made a bowl.
Maybe you love taking pictures of flowers but have absolutely no idea what aperture means.
Or maybe you knit one veeery questionable scarf every three years.
You might garden with the confidence of Martha Stewart and the actual skills of a raccoon.
Who cares?
There’s something wonderfully freeing about doing things you're not particularly good at.
Because you're not performing or being evaluated.
You're not building a resume or trying to prove anything.
You're playing.
I think a lot of us forgot how to do that.
We became very good at being productive adults and not nearly as good at being beginners.
Because being a beginner means being bad.
It means making the lopsided thing. Burning the dinner. Forgetting the steps. Looking ridiculous.
Not knowing what you're doing.
And the part I really love:
You don't have to get better!
You can, of course.
But you don't have to.
You can keep the hobby exactly where it is.
You can stay delightfully mediocre.
You can have interests that don't become expertise, side hustles, certifications, businesses, or impressive party conversation.
You can do something simply because you like doing it.
In my opinion, I think that's a pretty good reason.
So here's your permission slip this week:
Do something you're bad at.
Not because you're hoping to become good at it, or you've decided this is the year you're finally going to master the thing.
Just because it's fun.
Make the terrible painting.
Try the recipe.
Sing badly.
Take the pottery class.
Learn five chords on the Ukulele and then play those same five chords for the next 3 years. (Ahem. Personal experience.)
You don't have to turn every spark of curiosity into a bonfire.
Sometimes a little spark is enough.
And sometimes the crooked bowl holding three almonds is exactly the point.