Believing in Yourself ... And Taking on a Challenge

Not that long ago, I wanted to do something special for my husband while he was off at a weeklong air show. I took my infant daughter to the local craft store and came back home with one jar of black paint, one jar of white paint, canvasses, a few brushes and a palette.

Despite having taken some art classes as a child, I had never painted (artistically speaking) since marrying my husband. I so desperately wanted a painting above my couch, but we couldn't afford what we really wanted.

So, at night, after my baby went to sleep, I stayed up. And, knowing my husband was an avid lover of airplanes, I decided to search for something within my (very small) skill set.

It was no easy task, but I have never been one to back down from a challenge - within reason, of course!

I didn't start small either - this was a four-panel, pristine white canvass spread out before me. 

I wanted to paint in secret; I honestly didn't know if I could pull it off. I had this picture in my head of an airplane in black and white. It looked sophisticated and classy in my mind, but also comfy enough to sit above my couch.

Hesitant, I used pencil to lightly sketch the major features of the plane - the wings, the engines, the propellers, the windows, the wings.

Then, I poured out the untainted paint, watching it fill in the hollow scoops of my palette. It was daunting. I thought about the potential failure of this DIY. I realized it could be really, really embarrassing.

But, I took the plunge and began mixing the colors to create varying shades of gray.

Once I used my brush to pick up the smallest bit of color, I began to see the plane take shape. 

It took some time, some patience and a little late-night work, but my *cough, cough* masterpiece was complete.

It wasn’t perfect, but it did – to my great surprise and relief – actually resemble a plane. My husband was so surprised when he came home. He never expected me to create our own décor - much less paint a plane. He loved it. And, I was happy knowing that my hesitancy didn’t keep me from forging ahead and giving it a try.

That was two years ago, and “my plane” proudly resides above our couch today.

I have recently embarked on a new journey. I am scared that I will fail. But I also know that I won't have the opportunity to succeed if I don't at least give it a try. And, like my painting, my new journey may not be perfect, but with love, patience and hard work, something worthy might just arise.

The plane is proof of that.