The Lessons That Beading Taught Me

When I first started beading, I tried it because I wanted to see if I could do it. I’ve always admired the beauty of beaded bracelets. But, a part of me believed that I lacked the skill to create something so beautiful. To my surprise, not only was I able to make them, I enjoyed it. And that enjoyment turned into a place of happiness and retreat for me. As I would get lost in my creations, beading created a space for me to allow stress to melt away. But it wasn’t all fun in the beginning. When I first started looking for inspiration for my designs, I would often compare my creations to other artisans who had been beading for years. I always felt like my creations weren’t as beautiful because they didn’t look quite like theirs. As a new beader, I didn’t think that I could ever measure up to these amazing designers. What I didn’t realize is that by doing this, I was missing powerful lessons that I would learn through the beading process.

One of the first lessons beading taught me was that I’m only limited by what I’m not willing to try. You see, I was the type of person that would often say (or more like think) what I couldn’t do. I always figured that you had to be some sort of guru to succeed at certain things. But even though those thoughts continued to surface, I still sat down at my desk anyway and tried to create. And as I sat with a strand of beads and my tools, I would say a quick prayer and start stringing, tying, and snipping. Before I knew it, I was amazed with the end result. If I didn’t like it, I would take it apart. If it didn’t feel right, I would clip the chord and start all over. It didn’t matter how many times I made a bracelet. I would keep remaking it until it “felt right” to me. After a while, I realized that I was actually doing this thing and was getting pretty good at it. That’s when it hit me that the beauty that I was seeking wasn’t found when I was comparing my creations to another artisan’s work. Beauty was discovered after I took that first courageous step. It was discovered as I continued to practice that which I had set out to do. And as I created another bracelet…and another…and another…I realize that the limits that I had placed on my own ability were the only things that were keeping me from soaring. This was one of the first times that I truly began to see the beauty in just trying. And so, I began to apply that same courage of trying to other areas in my life where I had felt defeated. With it, I’ve earned a bachelor’s degree. I’m learning a new language. I’m studying for a certification for work. And, I’m working on improving my health. And this is just the beginning. It takes courage to rise above that voice that tells you that you’re not good enough…that you’re too old…that you’re not creative enough. I learned that when you take that step, you will ultimately (whether it’s now or later) prove that fearful voice out to be a liar. And I am here for it.

Another thing that beading has taught me is that if I don’t like something to just change it. I know it might seem like a simple thing. But it’s not always easy to do when you’re surrounded by tradition. Just as I change a color combination for a bracelet, or try a new technique, I’ve learned that life truly can be what we create. So instead of focusing on what’s wrong, look for ways to either change or improve the situation. And if it’s something that I can’t fix, I don’t worry about it. I move on to something else that I can do—something that can bring me pleasure.

So, I’ve applied these lessons to every area of my life, I can create the beauty that I want to see. My life is and will be beautiful. It’s okay to admire the beauty that others create. But it’s just as important not to let that admiration stifle the beauty and creativity that resides in all of us. Beauty for me is going to look differently from the beauty that is created from within someone else. That is partly what makes this world so amazing. And by recognizing, appreciating, and giving my inner beauty space to express itself (through beading) freely, I can have a greater love and appreciation for the beautiful expressions of others.

I never knew that beading would become one of my biggest teachers. But I’m truly grateful that I sat still long enough to pay attention.