A great start
My mom taught me to crochet when I was younger than 10. I am not sure why I was so interested in that craft, but I remember watching her fingers maneuver the thread and the crochet hook as a beautiful pattern emerged, and I was hooked (pun intended). I was always intrigued with making things, and crochet provided a creative and artistic outlet. I wonder if I had the internet and an iPhone back then would I still have found it fascinating…? Hmmm…I guess we’ll never know.
When I found out I was pregnant with my first baby, I immediately started imagining the beautiful crochet paraphernalia I would make. I was working full time and working on my Masters degree at the time, but I still had ambitious fantasies of crochet glory. Things started off great. I got some peach and green baby yarn (keeping it neutral since we didn’t yet know the baby’s gender), and I started on a beautiful baby blanket pattern that came free with the yarn. It was an intricate pattern, but I was determined to complete it. Only the best for my baby! Fast forward 20+ years later. We were cleaning out the linen closet in preparation for the move to Pennsylvania, and one of my kids said, “Oh this is a cute scarf, did you make this mom?” Well, the cute skinny scarf-looking creation was that baby blanket that I started in 1994. I didn’t finish it. As a matter of fact, I never made any crochet creations for any of my children when they were little. I just simply did not have the time. Life happened, and other activities took precedence.
I have since made up for that lapse in maternal prowess though. I crocheted an afghan/blanket for each of the kids as a “congrats for completing boot camp” gift when they started their cadet careers as freshmen at the Air Force Academy, and another at the start of their junior year as a congratulatory gift on their commitment to serving in the Air Force. So they each have two lovingly crafted creations. Over the years, once my kids were older, I have made baby blankets for co-workers and friends who were expecting. It gives me so much joy to create and share these unique works of art.
But back to that first baby blanket that I started in 1994. I didn’t finish it. And that’s ok. Not every project we start has to be completed. I taught my kids growing you, “Finish what you start!” I was teaching them that when they made a commitment, it was important to see it through even when the going got tough. That advice still stands. I am adding another piece of advice to supplement the first. Sometimes starting is enough. Occasionally we will find ourselves in situations where we started something but there is no value in finishing. The value was in starting. There is wisdom in knowing when to move on. And there is no need to feel guilty when we do.
Some folks are afraid to start something if they are not sure they can finish. If there is value in starting, then do that. Don’t obsess about whether or not you will finish. Start, and see where it goes. Note of caution: this advice doesn’t fit every circumstance, so be thoughtful and discerning about that. The majority of the time, you will need to finish what you start. For example, if you start a renovation project in your bathroom, hopefully you will see that through to the finish. Your family doesn’t want to take showers at the Y for the rest of their lives. You should not start a project like that unless you are sure you can finish.
On the flip side, maybe you are thinking about writing a book. Why not start? If you don’t finish, that’s ok. You might write one chapter and decide that what you really want to do is write a play instead. Or you might start and need to set it aside for a few decades before you finish. That’s ok too. Or you might learn that you are more of a blogger than a book author. Hey, there is nothing wrong with that! You might be thinking about going back to school, but not sure you will have time to finish…start with one class. Maybe after years of watching Dancing with Stars you want to try ballroom dancing but not sure you can actually do it…check out a local studio, take one introductory class and see.
Are you the type of person who feels obligated to finish a book if you started it? Or finish a movie you started watching? Even if you hate it? Well, your freedom from the guilt of not finishing starts right here, right now. I encourage you to give yourself permission to close that book or walk out of the theatre. Start there…
