Patience + Passion

I've always considered myself a creative person, except when it comes to visual art. My stick figures are of Mona Lisa-worthy acclaim, and I could turn my margin doodles into the Starry Night. I realized from a young age that visual arts weren't exactly my specialty, but it doesn't mean I don't have a passion for it.

But passion isn't enough for me to ultimately like the work I create. It requires a skill I have been slow to learn but quick to love: patience.

When I was thinking about this concept, I realized that the modern world relies on convenience and instant gratification, providing immediate remedies for problems instead of having to work for or earn them. I consider myself to be a fairly patient person, but when I want something done right, I want it done right the first time, not the thirty-third time stained with eraser smudges. Sometimes, my perfectionism comes in handy, and other times, it stops me from trying things because I'm scared to fail.

Last weekend, I spent a rainy Saturday in with Kayleigh making canvases in my apartment, and it taught me something important. I spent much of my time worrying if each stroke would touch the canvas perfectly or, better yet, if the person I was making it for would like it. Then, I started to change my perspective. I took myself out of the equation and remembered why I made this thing. It wasn't for me or about me.

I wanted to make something to give to someone else to make them happy. It's not about the finesse or the perfection of the product; it's about the thought behind the gift. Doing something for someone else always makes me feel good, no matter how small the contribution, and when I gave this canvas to its intended recipient, I felt fulfilled by her gratitude for the gift. I had to mess up and smudge the canvas with eraser marks quite a few times, but I didn't give up.

Sure, I could have had better alignment or neater handwriting, but like my canvas says, "faith can move mountains," and I just had to have the faith in myself that it would turn out as I hoped it would.

Patience blooms the more you water it. It starts as a small seed, you continually feed it with water and sunlight, do a lot of waiting, and watch as it blossoms right before your eyes. It may take time, but feeding your patience with your passion by reminding yourself of why you started will give you an even more beautiful product than you ever could have imagined.