Reaching For The Stars

G.K. Chesterton (one of my favorite authors) once wrote, “If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly.” This statement is very comforting to me. I don’t take it to be an excuse for poor efforts but rather an encouragement for those of us who don’t have stellar first attempts. 🙋🏼‍♀️

Star quilt stamp issued by the USPS in 2016

In this modern age we are inundated with images of outstanding results. (Thanks a lot, Pinterest!) Our society is plagued with the desire for perfection with very little effort, or even someone else’s effort! But rather than conclude that one is just not...creative, musical, a good cook, etc., I feel we should embrace the sentiments of Chesterton and celebrate amateurish efforts! I decided that when I am an elderly grandmother (Lord willing) I want to have a certain set of ageless skills that I can use to bless the people in my life. 

• Be well read and know the great stories. (There is something wonderful about receiving the perfect book at the perfect moment in one’s life, especially when it comes in the mail!) 📚
• Bake a lovely loaf of bread. 🍞 
• Whip up a batch of everyone’s favorite cookie! 🍪
• Serve a steaming bowl of love, I mean, homemade soup. 🍲 🥰 
• Knit a cozy pair of socks. 🧦 
• Dance an Irish jig! 🍀 (I am Mrs. Murphy, after all 😉)
• Sew a quilt. 🧵 
• Draw a dinosaur .🦖 
• Play a Chopin nocturne.  🎹 
• Build a Lego spaceship. 🚀 
• Write the perfect encouraging letter with a beautifully addressed envelope. ✍🏻 

Just to name a few things on my list!

When I was younger I was interested in many things but feared I wasn’t really a true talent at any of them.  I’ve come to appreciate the value of time, practice and patience. Most goals can’t be attained overnight, but every bad loaf of bread I bake now is a lesson learned, experience gained, wisdom gleaned. My envelopes will never be as gorgeous as those created by the amazing postal artists I follow on Instagram, but I can still keep trying and sending out snail mail to my postal pals. Joy will be had in the creating and the receiving.
So, I will boldly take on my amateurish adventures, my mediocre mission, my primitive projects!! Yes! I will go forth and...flounder, at least until I get better! 😉 Won't you join me? 

Reach for the stars and the don’t forget to send a postcard!! 🤩

XOXO,

Mrs. Murphy