There is a certain freedom that genuine humility brings.
If you haven’t spent thousands of hours honing a craft, calling yourself a student of that craft isn’t a lesser claim. It’s a permission slip.
It takes the pressure off! We are free to learn and grow and make mistakes in our craft without the pressure to perform like a seasoned master.
But also.. nothing is cooler than humble confidence. Not self-deprecation.. I’m talking about the quiet kind of humble. Knowing you’re still learning, still far from mastery, while doing something genuinely impressive anyway. That vibe is unbeatable.
Don’t be afraid to try new things. Don’t stay stuck in something you don’t enjoy out of guilt, pressure, or sunk-cost thinking. The world is full of so, so many interesting things. Sample as many as you can!
Exploring something new? Go cheap. Spend the least amount of money possible as you dip your toe into the new experience. Unless it involves safety equipment..
Taking up an instrument? Buy something cheap, ideally used. Once you can make it sound beautiful, then reward yourself with an upgrade.
Low cost means low risk. If it turns out the hobby is not for you, there’s no guilt, nothing really lost. But if it is for you.. there’s real pride in making a $100 instrument sing. Some people keep that first cheap one on display long after they’ve upgraded, as a reminder of how far they’ve come. There is also a lot of wisdom to be gained from understanding just how a cheap instrument might be limiting you, and that wisdom will go a long way when finding the perfect upgrade to suit your needs.
This philosophy can be applied to just about any new craft or hobby.
Getting into gardening? One raised bed or a few smart pots is plenty to start learning how loving a plant too much can be its doom.. while also learning what specific plants needs to thrive.
Curious about cooking? Don’t buy the $200 knife; grab one good used chef’s knife and a $15 cutting board …and learn to actually use them. Practice your dice, your julienne, your chiffonade.. an onion a day will teach you more than any $200 knife will.
Want to try painting? Skip the $400 easel and artist-grade oils. A pad of cheap paper and a basic acrylic set will teach you just as much about painting, and if painting is right for you, while still being able to produce exquisite works of art.
Photography? You don’t need a $3000 camera to learn and practice the fundamentals of composition and lighting. Start with that little camera jammed into the back of your phone.
The point is: Start small. Stay humble. Try all that life has to offer without risk or guilt of moving on. And when you find something that clicks? Grow that ability without growing that ego.
Master status is optional. Showing up isn’t.
Now, go enjoy your freedom as a life-long student of the world!
Warm regards,
Jimerson Adkins