What are your strengths? How do they impede you and/or enable you? I’ve been pondering these questions as I worked in my studio this week. Here are a few of my answers.
Courage
Courage is one of my strengths. I will try things others shy from, such as a Level II/III Hot Power Yoga class at age 66. This class has called my name for months. Yesterday, I survived it. No surprise, putting myself out there and trying new things hasn’t always ended with positive results. However, on the whole I believe courage is an asset, keeping me from being mired in routine.
Routine
Ironically, having a solid routine is another strength. My routine is more dependable than Big Ben for setting your watch. OK, a tad bit of an exaggeration. Still, it gives me a reason to spring out of bed in the morning. It ensures I get daily exercise. Without my routine, I doubt I would get nearly as much time in the studio. My studio days are carved in stone. The downside is, although I can break with routine, I’m so much more comfortable following it. Therefore, breaking my routine to do something else (why I need courage 🙂 ) can be difficult.
Independent Thinker
When I first started quilting I was on trend. Eleanor Burns, with her Log Cabin in Day patterns were all the rage. No surprise, my very first quilt was based on this pattern. For the next few years, I followed the leaders of the day, honing my skills, but, also feeling stifled. It wasn’t long before I was changing colors, redrafting patterns, and even developing some of my own. I can’t say my strength is as a leader in the industry, but I’m definitely not a follower, except of my own muse. Of course, there are difficulties with this, too. I’m constantly needing to improvise and problem solve as I sew myself into proverbial corners.
My courage, routine and independence all come together as I pieced the back of Sunrise Over the Gulf River. I show courage by putting together clashing fabrics. My routine, or go to style of piecing, made putting together the back a snap. Honestly, I haven’t seen anyone else pull together such a crazy back, hence independence.
Now it is your turn. What are your strengths? How do they impede you and/or enable you?
I am linking up with Nina Marie’s Off the Wall Fridays.
