Skip to main content

One step behind

1. I don't like to ask for help.
2. Learning interests me.
3. Doing it myself interests me more.

I've taken up basic graphic design lessons. Free, online. Basic. For the sake of my own website. For the sake of other small businesses with a small marketing budget (if any!).

I can make shapes and words. But I don't know the first thing about design. Techniques. Industry standards. Graphic designers seem to have somthing in their genes. Either you have design sense or you don't. I'm not sure it's anything that can be learned.

Music, fashion, art ... I have no idea who's "in" or what's "hot". I'm not at the top of any list. Any field. Any category. I've always been a little behind the times. Behind the leaders. I've spent my life in the middle. Older brother. Me. Younger brother.

I wasn't concerned with being second when it came to passing out cookies. I knew I'd get mine. "Second" wasn't a cause for tears as long as we all received the same amount. And being one step behind never really bothered me either. Not when it comes to crossing a river or facing danger. I'll watch the steps you take and I'll place my foot on the same rock if it's dependable. I'd rather not be first at all.

While on vacation I watched people surfing. It's an impressive sport. Anticipating the wave. Positioning for it's arrival. Riding ahead of it. I admired them from shore. Watching the ocean swell and surfers rush to be in front.

I've never managed to be in front of any wave. No, I'm rushing just to keep a step behind.

I follow, I watch, I absorb, and then I act. Never because I had the idea first. Success is more certain when following someone who's already been successful.

And when it comes to graphic design, The Organic Bird is successful. Funny, though. She, too, wrote about being picked. Not first. Not last. Somewhere in the middle.

My I can relate to this antenna was at full tilt. I love how things I'm feeling are the same things you're feeling ... only different.

Most things I do are simple. Basic. In the middle. Honestly, I'm ok with that. I'm ok with being me. And I'm ok with trying to be more. Learn more. Do more.

Even if I wasn't "first".

My random attempts at graphic design:



Comments

Andrea said…
I love it. I think we're all feeling like we're not the first ones picked at some point in life. It's the getting over it part that's the kicker. I'm so glad you're doing this. Excited to see how it could open doors for you!
2:05 PM, August 24, 2011
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

April Fool's Day Pranks

Oh what joy this day brings. Just thinking about pranks thrills me to tears! I decided to make up a tasty treat for my family along with a few other low-key pranks. Enjoy! April Fool's Day Chocolate Chip Cookies: She wasn't very happy with me when I told her what they were ... she was too keen on these - knew something wasn't quite right and never actually tried one. Did you figure it out?  These are baked taters and black beans!!! Simply delicious if you're expecting garlic, salt, sour cream, and potatoes!  Here's how: 1. Whip up your favorite mashed potato recipe (I used 3 medium potatoes) 2. Mix in a few drops of yellow food coloring (3 drops was enough for this batch) 3. Stir in 1/2 can rinsed black beans 4. Then drop on a cookie sheet in a 350* oven for 30-45 minutes ... until golden on the top. These will taste delicious with a little salsa at dinner time!  By the way: I did make REAL cookies so as not to comp...
6 comments
Read a little more >>

What I didn't learn from my mother

I am learning. I am striving. To be more like Him. I am desperate to be more like Him. The alternative? Be more like my mother. I was asked to share a story or two about her on Mother's day many years ago. The request caught me off guard and left me speechless. It wasn't the 300 member congregation that deterred me. It was that fact that I couldn't think of a SINGLE good thing to say. Nothing honoring to utter. We had good times and I certainly had good memories but for many years all I could feel and focus on were the negative, harsh, and hurtful things. So I did what I always do when I have something heavy to work through: I sat down with a trusty pen and blank sheet of paper. I was determined to write something positive. I sat for a while thinking about the things I hated. I was angry and determined to not be like her. And I realized: The things I didn't learn FROM her, I learned BECAUSE of her. There were plenty of things I learned by her good example. F...
6 comments
Read a little more >>

I love this girl.

My almost-3-year-old talks and looks bigger than she is. She says things like,"How was your day Mom?" and "Of course you can!" So many things that I want to remember and retell her. So many things I don't write down and wish I did. We went out to a few shops this afternoon and she was so busy watching other people she ran into a brick wall. Her forehead has the mark to show it! "The sunshine is Lento, Mom" She says this at 6:15am as she opens the door to our bedroom. She pushes me over and continues "The sunshine is slow." Yes, dear. It's slow. Why her internal clock is set to wake before 6:30am is beyond me. I tried to convince her to stay in bed until the sun has ACTUALLY risen. That lasted about 15 minutes. She bounced into bed with me proclaiming "The sun is up! Wake up everyone!" She is quite the ray of sunshine herself. Always dancing, singing, laughing, smiling. Well. That, and she's always asking for a ...
4 comments
Read a little more >>