DIY - Reflection, Tips, and Motivation

Do-it-yourself is a journey of a lifetime, both figuratively and literally. The experience I got from doing hands-on work was great. Guided by a book, I was able to make connections and find similarities. I learned a lot from Made by Hand, by Mark Frauenfelder. As I found true, DIY creates a unique mindset. When working on a project, only half of our mind is on the work; the other half is free to wander (Frauenfelder 103). DIY lets our minds wander free. It lets us forget about real life and focus on something more satisfying and meaningful. As for the literal side, DIY can last a lifetime. DIY is something that can be taken along life's journey. DIY is a skill that can be used throughout our lives, and a valuable one too. DIY can ranged from art, to cooking, to building a house. DIY is something that is interpreted differently by different people. 

Inspiration is crucial to DIY. Finding inspiration to start, or to keep going to finish is one of the hardest parts. Starting with this, I came across one of, in my opinion, best quotes in the book: "[DIYers'] secret isn't so much what they have as what they don't have: a fear of failure" (Frauenfelder 20). I came across this several times. This is an important reminder as the owrld of DIY is explored. With failure in the back of our minds, one reminder is stressed: "Do not be afraid. Do not allow yourself to be intimidated" (Frauenfelder 158). 

Intimidation was prominent as the end of the quarter loomed over. With limited time and pressure to finish the blog as a school assignment, I wasn't able to freely explore DIY as much as I wanted to. But "when life hands you a broken tree branch, make a wooden spoon" (Frauenfelder 145). Many of us have heard this in the form of lemons and lemonade, but the message is the same: make the best out of your situation. I adapted to the short time span and chose smaller projects, such as crafts. With more time, I definitely want to try bigger and more useful projects. Join the rest of the DIY world and take initiative. There are many benefits with DIY, such as saving money, having fun, or helping others in the process.

With more time, here are a couple projects I would want to work on in the future:

A Lego tissue box cover would lighten the mood when sick.

I'd love to make a Seahawks sharpie mug!

What is something you've always wanted to try to make, but never really got around to it?

Citation:
Frauenfelder, Mark. Made by Hand: Searching for Meaning in a Throwaway World. New York: Portfolio, 2010. Print.