Do It Yourself. I try to live by this credo. It happens naturally as a maker of art. I use my hands, experience, knowledge with a dose of experimentation to create. In the matter of life skills, I work to accomplish a certain amount of self-reliance too. I can’t replace the brakes on my car like my neighbor just did (he said it was easy — just a matter of four bolts!), but I can pick up trash along the beach to be helpful to the environment, replace a minor broken part of a toilet or phone the county to make them aware of excess roadwear from constant construction trucks rumbling through our neighborhood.
Have you watched the new crafting competition show 'Making It" on television? I've enjoyed seeing the imagination, creativity, and variety of skills the artists unfold during each episode. Risks are encouraged; the results are incredible! A DIY attitude can be quite fulfilling. It’s satisfying to complete a project or task on my own. Sometimes it takes just the right tools and a trip to the local hardware store. Asking questions and advice from other experts helps build my own confidence so I can achieve success. And if my first attempts are not fruitful, I try to learn from the experience for the next attempt. A ‘can do’ attitude helps me become less and less fearful of failure.
I’m not perfect. It’s easy to fall into complaining and wanting someone else to solve a problem without getting personally involved. But if we all take some responsibility and do our part to DIY, it benefits not only us, but the greater community. What have you done for yourself lately?