Article: Starting Over Again

Cambridge Dictionary definition of Starting Over Again: 

to begin to do something again, sometimes in a different way: We decided to abandon the first draft of the report and start over. The agreement allows old expectations to be forgotten and everyone can start afresh.

This is by far the hardest part of the design. I have found over years of designing both commercially and personally that sometimes that is exactly what we have to do. I am a planner to the point that I do not like to not allow for the unspeakable "change", then out of know where that happens and someone or something out of my unending planning changes and we must start over. Start over from scratch is difficult and liberating. I know that sounds crazy but think on it. It is liberating because you get to rethink what you are doing, thinking or designing. I find some joy in this especially when I am working with mediums of yarn, thread, paint, and paper. I get the opportunity to really think about what I want to accomplish or what the finished product should look like.  I do not say everyone with appreciates your vision far from it but it is your vision and how you want to see it matters. I know it is far from simple but I it is far better for you to be pleased about how your design or product is completed then for the doubting Thomas to understand what you are saying or doing. 

Remember to keep in mind your own doubting Thomas. I have found that sometimes I am unhappy with how something is coming along and I am not sure why. I have learned to set it aside and walk away. You are working on your own time table no one else's for if you need to leave something and walk away for a few minutes or a few hours and come back to it. It will help you understand if you should frog it or complete it. Many times I want to throw something away and that is ok too. If you are working on something and all it is bringing you is pain and grief, throw it away. I mean it, Throw it away! Sure that is the ultimate starting over but sometimes that is all you can do. Yes, we pour part of our soul into everything we make though designing and giving or throwing that part away is devasting but is it not far better to allow our soul to grow than die from the unhappiness with putting out work through design or finished product that makes us lose part of who we are. So you can see Starting Over Again is far better than losing part of what makes you, you. So what are you going to Start over Again today, whether that short story you just can't finish or that throw that just needs to be completed again? Starting over again may be the best thing you can do for yourself today.