Probably about 10 years ago, my mom gave me a sewing machine. I think she might’ve found it at a garage sale. Or maybe she just had it lying around and never used it. I don’t recall exactly. But she remembered that I made curtains for my first apartment, and she thought I might want a sewing machine.
I DID want a sewing machine. Or maybe more accurately, I wanted to be the kind of person who uses a sewing machine. So I eagerly brought home a gently used Singer.
That sewing machine has been in my spare room, my basement, my garage. It’s been all over the house. But it’s never actually been USED.
I guess that’s not entirely true. About five years ago, my husband and I took it out to try to sew new boat cushion covers. But we couldn’t figure out how to wind the bobbin. We also realized we’d need heavy-duty needles and probably more sewing experience than NONE to make those cushions actually happen. So we covered the torn cushions in pretty layers of red duct tape, instead.
And the sewing machine got relegated, once more, to the basement.
Recently, I was looking at a bunch of dingy, flattened throw pillows on my couch. I love throw pillows. But every time I buy them, I cringe at the price tag. Why are pillows so freaking expensive? They’re fabric squares stuffed with fluff!
Then, of course, I tell myself, You can make pillows. How hard can it be? I remind myself, You made those curtains. And they were almost even!
And I so desperately want to be the kind of person who sews, that I pick up a few fabric squares and I carry my Singer up from the basement. This time, I watch a few bobbin-winding videos on YouTube. I realize that the bobbin needs to turn COUNTER clockwise, and it feels like I’ve solved the problem. Until I break the needle.
It took a few more videos and a trip to the store, but GUESS WHAT? I made a pillow! I actually made TWO pillows. Maybe they’re not store-quality, but they didn’t come out too bad!
A few days later I hemmed a curtain!
I’ve got big plans now, guys. Pillows! Tablecloths! Curtains! Dog bed covers! I’m pretty sure I am now capable of sewing lots of square and rectangular things.
But aside from my obvious bragging, I have another reason for sharing this with you. I think, sometimes, as we get older, we get stuck in our routines. We know what we’re good at, and we do those things. We’ve already defined ourselves.
You are either ‘a runner’ or ‘someone who doesn’t run.’ A ‘muscian’ or ‘not a musician.’ Creative. Funny. A writer. A fitness buff. Or not.
And then, slowly but surely, we shrink to fit our own definitions of ourselves. We forget the joy of learning something new. And guys, it is so freaking fun to learn new things!
My challenge to myself this season is to keep growing. Keep learning. Keep trying new things. I’m trying to stretch myself beyond my own vision of who I can be. I know that I am a teacher, a reader, a mother, a musician…. I’ve been all of those things for so long!
But I can be more. I can be SO MANY things! I’m taking a writing class now. I’m learning so much, and loving every minute of it. And with the help of a great technological advancement called YouTube, I feel confident that I will eventually be able to sew things that aren’t square!
With a little bit of effort, I am going to become an author, a person who sews, and maybe even a woman who can curl her own hair. The sky’s the limit!
Will you join me? What have YOU always wanted to learn?