New Things

It’s hard to wrap your head around new things.

In my experience as an increasingly older human, I’ve found that learning new skills is a frustrating endeavor.

I’m willing to bet I’m not alone in that.

What I’ve also learned, is that if I allow myself to experience that frustration with patience and acceptance of its inevitability, and then continue to practice that new skill DESPITE my emotional apprehensions, it will be impossible for me to NOT improve and grow in that skill.

My Wife once described it as fresh snow on a mountain. That first slide down in your sled will be difficult to control. But if you ride down on that newly formed groove over and over again, soon you’ll have a well-worn, easy-to-follow path that becomes effortless.

I’m not comfortable painting “negative”. My brain doesn’t want to understand how to use white to paint on black. Like, I’ve been an artist long enough that I understand it theoretically. But practically speaking I have to endure those negative (lol) emotions while I go through the process.

Are there improvements I can make on this? Absolutely. MANY.

But I can also choose to celebrate the wins of trying something new to expand my ever-growing skills as an artist.