Failure

Why do some people want others to fail? I sincerely do not understand this. Recently, I stared watching the PBS series Victoria on our Roku device. It is clear in the first episode that the young Queen’s mother wants her to fail at her duties to serve as Monarch. Her own mother! Really! This is something I just do not understand.

As a self-recognized perfectionist, I detest failure. Throughout my life, I’ve avoided it at all costs. That avoidance came in the form of persistence and practice to get better at whatever I was doing. I still have that drive to be the best at what I do.

But, I’ve also realized that failure might be beneficial at times as well. For if we don’t fail, how do we learn? In addition, I’ve recognized that if one is trying, one is not failing – at anything.

Persistence

Recently, I’ve had to persist at making a set of roman shades for our cabin. I’ve made roman shades before – many years ago. They were relatively easy and came together fast. That’s not been the case this time. And, because I was having trouble, I did what came naturally – I put working on the shades to the side and busied myself creatively in any other way possible.

Frugality

But, then my stubbornness and frugality set in. I spent a lot of money on the material for these shades. I waited until I found just the right pattern and color to match the decor at our cabin. I did not want to waste all that money or time by not finishing them. I could do it!

Grit

In the last week, one blind got finished, I am working on the second after ripping off the trim that I found was not wide enough after it was already sewn on and ready for the lining. The trim was an adjustment to the pattern I made after the first attempt at following the directions were not successful. The third blind is cut out.

Life Long Learner

Enter new sewing machine! In the midst of putting my mask and apron making aside, I decided to finally get out my new Singer Heavy Duty sewing machine I got last summer. It was my anniversary present from my husband. (Don’t worry – yes, it’s an appliance but something I wanted.) Now, there is a learning curve regarding how this new model works.

Persistence

My machine, the new one, jammed when I was working on the blind yesterday. Jammed! It took some patience to persist at figuring out what was going on. But, after trial and error, reading the online manual, rethreading the bobbin, changing the needle, and rethreading the machine, it started to work again.

I am determined to make these blinds. And, I will.

Will they be perfect? No.

Will I have failed? No.

Will I have persisted? Yes.

Neither perfectionism or failure is an answer. I’m working hard to not require myself to “be perfect” or do things “perfectly.” It’s too bad that it took to my mid-50’s to realize that while perfectionism can be useful, it is often not the reason behind success! It might just be a different “P” word – that of persistence!