Art Class

This is my message to myself! I have been planning to sign up for an art class for a few months now, and every time I pushed myself close enough to doing it, I'd come up with reasons and excuse about why I should wait... I still have reasons for waiting... Weekend plans, flying home for spring break, work commitments on a Saturday in April, etc. etc. But today, I decided to not let myself keep me from doing what I really want to do. I decided that it was time for the rest of my life to work around me! (and I really wanted a good excuse to by some more art supplies ;)

So, despite my fears, I headed straight to the Art Students League of NY after work and am now signed up for a drawing class starting Saturday. This feels like the first actual art class I have taken. I did, however, take art in 8th grade and an art class for educators in college... but I feel like those don't count... I took them, loved taking them, but was thrust into by class requirements. So much of me regrets never choosing art in high school or college... I put writing first and then education and literature. But, I am now registered for my first class.

Putting myself into new situations, for example a drawing class where I'm sure there are people who ACTUALLY know what they are doing, makes me realize a thing or two about myself. I consider myself terrified of doing new things. The prospect of not know what to do can sometimes be enough to slow me down from doing something I kind of want to do. And even though I feel like the only person in the world who suffers from this, I am pretty sure I am not. This is what I tell myself to push myself out of my comfort zone (So IF I am the only person in the world who thinks this way, just nod and act like there are others!! ;). To try new things. To just do whatever it is that I am wanting to do... And, if I look a little foolish along the way, then whatever. I know it's my first time. I know I am new at it. And eventually, I might have a slight idea about what I am doing.

If there is one thing I love about my twenties (or at least the first half of them) is the realization of who I am and the ability to push myself beyond that. I know I don't know a lot about a lot of things. I know I am terrified of trying new things, but I also know, I don't have to let my fears hold me back. I hope I only get more and more confident and daring as I age.

Hope my first drawing class doesn't turn out to be horrifying... maybe I'll share a little about my experience this weekend!