You Are a Work In Process

Last Christmas I received a pasta-making machine tool. The word "machine" sounds far too automated to describe what the device does. The pasta thingy allows us to take flour, water, eggs, and a pinch of salt and make a dough-like substance suitable for sustaining life. The process is messy, imprecise, and one step short of chaos.

Aside from my hard-fought battles with flipping eggs, this is one of my most epic cooking challenges. It's safe to assume I won't be opening an Italian restaurant any time soon.

Still, I embrace the pasta machine, short people in tow, with a sense of adventure.

We love the contraption and it's easy to see why; we love the process of making the pasta. We celebrate each creation as though it's the finest thing ever. The ugly noodles are just as tasty as the pretty ones. We don't expect perfection. We love crossing the finish line and figure we'll get better with practice.

We give ourselves points for effort regardless of the outcome; we aren't critical of our shortcomings since we know we are a work in progress. We are kind to ourselves.

Sometimes I wish I could bring the same sensibilities to everything I try.

Do you happen to be your worst critic? Are you frustrated or disappointed when what you produce is "less than" perfect? Do you worry about the little things that go wrong?

Or are you kind to yourself?

How much different would you feel if you lightened up and enjoyed the process of marriage, parenting, or your career?  What if you believed that the ugly parts were ultimately as beneficial as the pretty ones?

On my best days, I know that being engaged is enough. I know that I'm a work in progress. When I realize that, I'm more likely to take risks, to embrace adventure, to have fun.

Are you kind to yourself?