I’ve started a drawing class to get myself into the mindset of a webcomic artist. seriously. I actually do want to explore a new hobby, and drawing has become one of those hobbies that I’m curious about starting. This is a relatively new interest, mind you: I used to be impressed with the dedication and attention to detail that artists possess, but I’ve never had the patience for it, myself.

I’m still fairly impatient, and it can be difficult to get started, but the simple truth is that you cannot start something unless you, well, start. You have to go in prepared to make mistakes, to fail, to struggle. Without those mistakes, you’ll never learn or grow. I’m not looking forward to the patience I’ll need to fail, but I had a good time in my first class. I’m looking forward to keeping at it.

Have you ever walked away from a hobby because it seemed too daunting to accomplish? I’ve spent most of my life doing it. Even running became a labor of love; when I started, I would just run as fast as possible until I exhausted myself, then rinsed and repeated. Even when using an online guide, I really did not know how to pace myself. It wasn’t until I joined a running group that I learned to keep pace with the group rather than trying to run on my own. It took minimal effort to learn this in a group, but a great deal of effort to recreate on my own. I think this is where I’ve suffered in the past: I was focused on the results more than the effort, and I kept hitting a figurative brick wall in my endeavors.

I’ve definitely improved since I committed to indulging my hobbies, but I’m not where I need to be. It takes pacing and respect for the process. I look forward to continuing to improve.