HOBBIES ... What I learned

​Several weeks ago I told you about how I was exploring my hobbies by joining a ceramics classes (CLICK HERE if you would like a refresher or missed the original post). This, as you may recall, was part of my commitment to challenge myself to learn a new skill. One course and a few colourful bowls later, I am here to share what I took from the experience. 

1. Patience. It took weeks for me to finish any of my projects, as you must let things dry at each point in the process and, then, wait a week until you can dip it in a new glaze or have the clay set to the right consistency to try a new technique on. This certainly promoted patience and helped me build excitement to work further towards a finished piece. 
2. The beauty in imperfection. Anyone who has tried ceramics will probably tell you it will end up with cracks, dripping glaze, and small imperfections even with the best tools and techniques at your disposal. Rather than reflecting fault, these are great opportunities to interpret imperfection as uniqueness, which can allow you to learn to love your work in a new way. 
3. Commitment is the key to making time. Simply by paying for this course, I felt driven to not miss a class and make this endeavour a priority in my schedule. There were certainly cold evenings when I did not feel like staying out until 10 pm, but for the most part I looked forward to the class and the creativity that it brought to my week. While that initial pressure of having paid for the classes may have gotten me there to begin with, it also showed that I can find time for something different in my schedule even if it was not the most essential priority in my life.
4. Being an outsider is not so bad. I was the youngest person in the class by at least 15 years. I certainly noticed this at first, but week after week this became less obvious to me. Something that at first was embarrassing or intimidating quickly became unnoticeable and irrelevant. It was a good lesson in not judging myself and others on superficial factors that can make me feel like an outsider. We all had a shared creative outlet in our week, and that is all that really mattered.   

If you challenged yourself to take part in a new hobby or activity during 2019, take some time to reflect on what you were able to take away from the experience. Did you get anything out of it that you did not anticipate? What sorts of activities and opportunities could lay ahead for you this year?

Image used under Creative Commons license. CLICK HERE for the source.
 Image: Ready for the Kiln by Martin Cathrae. See side panel for further copyright information.