I’ve had this post sitting open in my browser for a couple of days, because I have a lot to say about it that I can’t seem to manage to say. Most of them probably involve sounding like a crazed fangirl.
But really? She’s right.
It’s ridiculous that it’s so hard to just *do* what you know you can do, that so many of us have such elaborate mental barriers. It’s freaking ridiculous that we talk ourselves out of doing things that we love. My favorite way to do it is to assume that if I enjoy a thing, it isn’t serious. And why does it have to be serious, anyway? I struggle with this every day, since we’re having some challenges around here right now that makes time sort of ridiculously precious. Doing something fun seems so wrong, *even if it’s productive in a more traditional, money-making sense.* Somewhere along the line I picked up the idea that it doesn’t count as work unless you hate every minute of it, that the highest badges of honor only go to those who are miserable.
Gotta ask: who needs a steeeenking badge, anyway?
I love making dishcloths. Are dishcloths serious? Not really. But they’re useful and they’re fun to make and I’ve gotten a lot of pleasure out of making tons of them and trying them myself and handing them out to friends and refining the damned things until, 6 months later, I feel like I’ve made the *perfect* dishcloth. And soon, no doubt, I’ll set out to work out another one, because I love my dishcloths. Love them.
But…they’re *crocheted.* From *cotton.* Oh, the horror, the horror…
Being online is such a mixed blessing. Because for every CLF that builds you up, there are 12 naysayers sitting *right there* telling you you’re doing it wrong. The sheer amount of brutal snobbery I’ve seen in some places recently…whew. It takes precious mental energy to repel that stuff. I’ve been trying to practice telling the world to go f*** itself lately, but it’s not easy at all. My best solution has been to avoid even coming in contact with the places I know I’ll find that sort of thing, or people who’ll sneer at me, however politely. Because you know what? Just. Don’t. Need. It. Not right now, not ever.
In any case, I’m glad the CLF exists. And I suppose I’d best figure out which design(s) in progress to whip into shape and submit for the book. Hey, I’ve got to try…