A few years ago I was running a table at the Student Wellness Fair on campus. I had a lot of amusing pictures and was inviting students to create memes by writing captions. Much to my surprise, they were backing off, saying "I can't do that!" They weren't smart enough, clever enough... They seemed to fear being judged on something nobody else would even see.
It's a trend I've been seeing with alarming frequency for awhile now and not just among college students. Trying something new that might be fun suddenly seems like risky business--not worth bothering unless you can be perfect on the first try or monetize it on social media. When people adopt this mindset they miss out on so much!
With me if something sounds like fun (and doesn't incur the risk of physical injury or death, legal liability, or a felony record) it's game on. Whether it's accepting an invitation to appear in my first drag show at 63, being the audience member at a Renaissance Festival to try belly dancing on stage while hugely great with child, starting this book review blog 15 years ago, or applying to graduate school at 65, decades after graduating college, it was heck yeah!!! And I gained so much from those experiences!
So you can imagine how excited I was when I discovered Karen Walrond's In Defense of Dabbling: The Brilliance of Being A Total Amateur. Walrond had similar concerns about the insistent demands for constant productivity, professionalism, and perfectionism of the world we live in. So she embarked on a bold experiment: exploring potential interests, not for mastery or commodification, but for joy. Her candid discussion of these ventures makes for some pretty good reading.
And there's also a lot of research based wisdom in this slim volume. Walrond spells out all the ways that trying new things with an open heart and mind is good for you.
Don't know what to try? In the back there's a very diverse seven page list of possibilities. There's something there for just there for just about everyone. I'm sure you can find something affordable, accessible, and joy inducing.
Happy dabbling!!!
On a purrrsonal note, after the stroke in the fall of '23 I became very much a dabbler. My occupational therapy exercises were dull as fuck. I mean chaining safety pins, stacking quarters... I wanted something fun and creative. If these were what adult stuff was, which they kept telling me, I wanted something childish. Amber understood. She got me kids Christmas ornament kits which were more challenging than the adult stuff and actually fun. And being able to hang them on the Christmas tree gave me a real sense of accomplishment that stacking coins to infinity and beyond couldn't. I became addicted to children's crafts kits which I can get at yard sales and thrift shops. I also took advantage of crafting events at UMaine. I made a really beautiful key chain with tiny charms that I am inordinately proud of. Labor Day weekend Eugene bought me a Squishmallow blanket kit that required tying 450 knots. It took me a week. I have a soft, warm lap quilt size blanket that will be purrrfect for cold weather reading. This morning before I head to Brewer for a birthday tattoo (a purrrfect way to celebrate) I'm going to fake stained glass (paint) 2 bottles. And my prizes from the Orono Public Library summer reading challenge include what I need to try water colors. Viva dabbling!!!
A great big shout goes out to all who dare to dabble in today's world.
Jules Hathaway
