I recently read a piece that said, “it’s okay to be bad at hobbies that bring you joy,” or something along those lines, and I really liked that.

It’s okay to be “bad” at something that brings you joy.

I wouldn’t use the word “bad,” maybe amateur? Beginner? Inexperienced? Learning? Novice?

I’m not sure if it’s a culture that lets everyone win, a generation of children who grew up with no one is bad mentality, everyone gets a trophy, or a generation who grew up encouraged to quit if they weren’t the best. Maybe it’s social media, the constant highlight reel where no one ever looks bad at what they do because they only share the good results, the pretty final product. Probably both, I would think.

But somewhere along the way, a whole lot of people got really uncomfortable being “bad” at things, or being a beginner, and the uncomfortableness led to playing it safe, not trying anything new or making an effort to learn. Hobbies seemed to evaporate a bit.

Again, the pendulum is swinging and hobbies are making a comeback because people are rediscovering the joy that comes with creating, making, doing.

It’s okay to be a beginner at a hobby and find joy in it. It’s okay to be bad at something you love. Keep doing it, keep practicing!

I love to say you can’t learn if you don’t try. So let yourself be “bad” at the things that make you happy. My homemade bread is so far from perfect it’s tragic, but I love it. My garden is a constant teacher, every day a new lesson and I’m such a beginner, but I love it. My cooking is ever-developing and I love it. My sewing and mending is atrocious, but it brings me joy. My interior design work will never be published, but it’s a passion.

I can’t wait to see how my hobbies evolve in the years to come.

Do things because they make you happy and bring you joy! You don’t need to be an expert, but time and devotion will be a wonderful teacher to you 💛