For years, I had this little dream tucked away. I wanted to learn to play the fiddle. I could see myself banging out a solo like Matt Heckler or the guys in Trampled By Turtles. But then, as dreams do, it started to get messy. Which fiddle should I get? Should I go cheap, in case I chickened out? What if I wasn’t any good at it?
One night, I was mulling over these questions with my husband. I said, “But what if fiddling isn’t my gift to the world?” He looked at me, with that mix of love and hard truth that only a software engineer can muster, and said, “I can assure you, fiddling is NOT your gift to the world, but that’s not the point.”
Ouch. And also: freedom. His words landed like cold water to the face, shocking and refreshing. They reminded me that not everything we do needs to be perfect or serve some grand purpose. Sometimes, we just need to do things for the joy of doing them.
As a real estate business coach, I preach about excellence and expertise. But let’s be real: the magic often happens when we step out of our comfort zones and try new things, even if we’re terrible at them. It’s in the willingness to be a beginner, to fail and flail, that we find true growth and joy.
How often do we stop ourselves from trying something new because we’re scared we won’t be good at it? We worry about what people will think or how we’ll feel if we don’t excel. But what if we allowed ourselves to enjoy the messy, beautiful process of learning?
When I finally got my fiddle, I was awful. Truly, spectacularly awful (and, truthfully, I still am). But there was so much joy in those screechy notes. I was doing something just for me, just for the love of it.
In our work lives, we measure success by achievements and accolades. But some of the most profound successes come from our willingness to try, to embrace the unknown, and to learn from the journey, regardless of the outcome.
So, here’s my invitation to you: find that thing you’ve always wanted to try, and give yourself permission to be new at it. Whether it’s a hobby, a skill, or a project, let go of the need to be perfect. Embrace the joy of trying, of learning, of growing. Remember, you don’t have to be amazing at everything you do to find pleasure and fulfillment.
Let’s celebrate the courage it takes to step into the unknown, the resilience to keep going when we stumble, and the joy of discovering new passions. Life is too short to let fear stop us from trying something new.
Keep fiddlin’, and keep trying.