I’ll be honest and talk about the elephant in the room—I probably have way too many unfinished projects. I also tend to have many projects going on at once. I’m a creative, and I could easily get distracted with new shiny ideas when I hit a rough patch with the current project.
But the truth is some things take longer to complete in certain seasons of life.
I’m a mother of four wonderful kids, from teenager to toddler. I’m constantly busy during the season of motherhood, driving my kids around to their various activities or getting dinner ready. I may be catching up on laundry or cleaning up the kitchen. Depending on the time of year—I may have more time or less time to work on projects. Some days, I can sneak away for a couple hours to get some work done. Some days, finding an hour to sew feels like an accomplishment all on its own. Other days, the sewing machine doesn’t get turned on at all as I can’t make it to my craft room. The thing is every day is different and every week is different.
And that’s okay. This is the season I’m in. My projects may move a bit slower than I’d prefer, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. There are little people and everyday moments that need my time and attention, too.
I’ve had to remind myself that progress doesn’t always look like a finished product. Sometimes it’s a few seams sewn, a block completed, or simply making time to sit down and create. And sometimes, it’s okay to set a project aside and come back to it when the time is right.
I don’t want to spend so much time focusing on what I haven’t finished that I forget to enjoy the joy of creating along the way. After all, the stories behind our quilty projects aren’t just about the end result. They’re also about the season of life in which we made them. I don’t want to miss the beauty of this season, as hard as it may be, because I’m too busy wishing I had more time for the next project. There will be time for more quilts and new ideas. For now, I’ll enjoy the little pockets of time I get to spend creating when I can.
But in truth, some things take longer to complete in certain seasons of life.
So here’s to the unfinished projects, new ideas, slow progress, and finding joy in the little moments of success along the way. Joy in the journey, right?