Thursday, March 25, 2010

an introduction, of sorts

When faced with a mug containing an indeterminate amount of coffee, the optimist will declare "This cup is half full!"
The pessimist corrects, "This cup is half-empty."
The realist studies the situation a moment before explaining, "Actually, it depends on whether you're drinking or pouring."
The meliorist brightens and declares "Hey, if you add some kahlua we'd be halfway to a party!"

Actually, meliorism is the philosophical belief that the world tends to get better and that we, as humans, can foster that change and contribute to making this a better place to live. Large scale, I don't entirely hold to that. On a personal scale, however, I'm trying to apply the concept that I have the power to make things better.

I love the process of creating things, but I also have a tragically short attention span. "Oh, that's shiny!" I think, "I can so make that myself!" Plan and sketch it out, make lists of techniques and ingredients, hare off to the craft store for goodies. Plop down at the table and merrily begin.

Before long, things have gone horribly wrong. It doesn't look like it did in my head, or my hands have begun to ache (I have severe arthritis) or it has inexplicably turned 2am. When I start channeling Scarlett O'Hara, I know it's time to turn it in. As in "I can't think about that right now. If I do, I'll go crazy. I'll think about that tomorrow. After all, tomorrow is another day!"

Having very limted space there's no dedicated craft area, so it all gets packed up and put away for the night. Where it's just so much easier to leave it there. Especially once something else new and shiny catches my magpie eye.

So. This is me, acknowledging my faults and vowing to do better. I will work on my craft until I actually improve to an acceptable level. I will finish one project before beginning another twenty. I will organize my crafting goodies so that I don't end up with fifty pair of scissors and no needles. I will... well, let's not get carried away here.

I will, in the immortal words of the Siruis Cybernetics Corporation complaints division, "Share and Enjoy".

2 comments:

  1. So glad you finally jumped into the crafty blog!

    I have the same short-attention-span problem; seems I'm always into some new thing (to the point of obsession and at the expense of finishing my old projects). Lists and posts do help. Some.

    Can't wait to see your hasty photos!

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  2. Thanks for the encouragement! Man, nevermind all the half finished ghosts of former projects, you should see the eleborate plans and sketches of projects never even begun. It's tragic.

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