Hands On

photo by -Doane.

What most people miss, I've found, when working in the real world, or Corporate megaplex, is truly working with their hands.

As a treat to myself, I'm taking a Master Gardening class this fall. In our first meeting we were asked to introduce ourselves and tell a little bit about why we were taking the class. 9 times out of 10, the reason for taking the class was because gardening was a form of therapy (both physical and emotional) & it created a balance to an otherwise hectic and mundane day | life.

There's an intrinsic sense of pride and self worth when you can actually see & enjoy the fruits of your labors. I see it in the faces of backyard gardeners when they harvest their vegetables, at the quilter's quild meetings when they're showing off their most recent quilting blocks, even in the kitchen of friends when they've figured out the perfect combinations of ingredients for their newly concocted caseroles.

We are creative beings. We can't stifle that without it affecting every aspect of our lives.

Challenge: Take a class

• find & take a class in your community that you've always wanted to take but were afraid to:
  
  this could be a one day cooking workshop at Sur la Table, or a 10 week ceramics class at your community center. You could take automechanics, flower arranging, Docent training for the local museum. You could learn to paint, ride a motorcycle, or learn how to shop for antiques. You could even take a master gardeningn class.
  
  Whatever type of class it is, take it because you've always wanted to (not because you think you have to).
  
  
  
• remember, you're never too old (or young) to learn. If you find yourself resistent to the idea - ask yourself why. In fact, keep asking yourself why, until you can't think of any more answers. With each new answer, write it down in a notebook. These represent your fears, no matter how logical or practical they may sound.

Goal: embrace and accept your fears

• Fears are wonderful creatures. Usually they keep us from doing stupid things. They also keep us from doing the things we want because we're afraid we might look stupid.
  
  
• It is okay to give yourself permission to be afraid, but don't just stop at that. Take another scary step & examine your fear. What does it look like? What does it feel like? I mean really, physically, FEEL like? does it hurt? make you feel woozy or light headed? Do you feel pin pricks? or do your ears get hot?

Activity: Write about your physical reactions/symptoms of Fear

The next time you feel fear, if it's safe enough, sit down and truly feel it. Examine it from the inside out, as if you were a journalist having to write about the experience, then Write about the experience!