Endeavoring on a new sport, hobby or career is an extremely humbling enterprise. It requires putting yourself out there, accepting failure and allowing yourself to enjoy the butterflies of being a beginner.
What if it could be?
During childhood and adolescence people take up hobbies that inevitably become imprinted onto their identity. Even when the cleats get hung up or the piano begins to sit silent, many people still refer back to these activities as a means of defining who they are —often mistaking these as prerequisites for who they can become and what they’re capable of doing.
Think of the how many times the words, “I don’t play (fill in the blank)” or “I don’t know how to (whatever it may be)”, maybe even a “I’m not the type”. This static mindset often stems from insecurity and fear of being a beginner. While this is completely normal and understandable, VALLEY encourages you to step out of your comfort zone. Just because you haven’t done it before, doesn’t mean it won’t be something that you do.
Riley Green said it best when he sang the lyrics, “I wish I could learn to drive again”. This speaks to the magic of those firsts—the joy of discovering, the lessons in the missteps, and the pride that comes with finally getting it right. Imagine if you had never tried. Imagine if you had let fear hold you back.
There is always time to become who you want to become
Some of the most successful names in their respective industries didn’t begin their careers until later in life. Vera Wang spent most of her 20s and 30s as a figure skater and journalist before trying her hand at fashion. Toni Morrison did not explode in the public eye until 1993 when she became the first African American woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. She was 62. The iconic global fast food chain, Kentucky Fried Chicken, was founded by Colonel Harland Sanders at the age of 65.
As the era of our 20s dawns on us all, the world is opening up with opportunities to try something new. Had those icons not been brave and gone out on a limb, not only would we be missing out, but their true potential wouldn’t have been tapped into. Don’t miss out on yourself!
The thrill of being a beginner
Think of the excitement on the first day of a new trip. Every place is unfamiliar and each experience has a magical air of novelty and discovery. Being a beginner and trying something new can feel sort of like that when approached with the right mindset.
It’s easy to want to push past the beginner phase as quickly as possible. However, by taking it slow and enjoying the bumps, hiccups and butterflies, the rewards that come from your hard work will be that much more enjoyable.
Once the beginner phase is gone, it won’t come back. Enjoy the butterflies.
