I love how life shows us our lessons or reflects past lessons as a reminder. Oh my goodness! My daughter wanted to learn how to knit so we went to the local craft store and checked out all the books on knitting and started to look at all the crochet books as well. I do not know how to knit whatsoever, however, I do know a few people who could possibly teach her. I have crocheted a scarf at one time so I suggested that she start with crochet so I could assist her. She was good with that suggestion.

When we came home she pulled everything out, she was ready determined to make a scarf. Did I tell you she did not know how to crochet yet? Well, I explained that you must learn the basic stitches before she could make the scarf. We pulled out the book and looked at the pictures. I made a slip knot and showed her the basic chain stitch. Now it was her turn…I am not sure what she was trying to do but it looked like she was wrapping yarn around the hook so I asked her to try again. She was frustrated after 2-3 tries and went off to her room. She was not going to crochet and that was it. My daughter was unravelling!!!

I gave her a few minutes of breathing time and reminded her of when she started looming – how she was frustrated because she had skipped a loom and now there was a hole in her pattern or how she could not even get started. But now she could make leg warmers (Yes! They are Back from the 80’s) or a scarf. It took practice and some trial and error. I told her I was leaving her with the yarn and hook and that she could stay in her room a while longer until she figured it out on her own. About 10 minutes later, she emerged with a Cheshire grin and a twinkle in her eyes and a chain stitch, now she was ready to learn the next stitch. She looked at me and said, “Mom, I hate it when you are right.” Savour those moments – the life lesson learned about not giving up and unrealistic expectations and many more.

Have you ever tried something and got “unravelled at the seams”? I am sure many of us have. How many times did you try again? Did you learn something from the errors so you could get it right the next time? Look back at your successes. Think about when you learned how to ride a bike or walk. You may have tumbled a couple times or even skinned at knee but you eventually got up and tried again until you met mastery.

This year, my mission is to help women reach their mastery – maximize the potential that may lie dormant within. Here are some simple things you can do to get start on reaching your mastery:

·    Identify one area or task you would like to improve in the next 30 days.

·    Write down what you want to achieve. When you ink your desires, you are also making a mental note and reminder of what you wish to achieve. You are making it known to the world what you want to achieve.

·    Explore what resources or people you need to help you reach your goal. Do you need money, to do some research, clothing, supplies, education, books, or an accountability partner? Remember, YouTube is a great resource! My daughter watched a how to crochet YouTube video and shouted, “Now I get it!” I want everything to fall into place like that for you.

·    Make a plan of action. Print off a free calendar template from www.calendarlabs.com or www.vertex42.com or take a lined piece of paper and on the left hand side going down line by line – number from 1-30. Next I want you to write down one task you will do each day and remember it does not have to be a big task or take tons of your time. I can already hear some of you saying, “Will this take a lot of time?” The answer is no. For example, if you are learning to crochet, you might buy the supplies one day, look at the how to book for instruction another day, and make a slip knot the next day. By the end of 30 days, you may have a dish cloth or even a scarf. Maybe your goal is to declutter your office – one day could be sorting papers into piles or shredding papers, another day could be making file folders for your papers, and the next could be donating books you have not looked at in the past year. Do you see what I am say? Keep it simple, step by step, consistent.

·    Take action, learn from mistakes, and move forward. You need to take consistent action to get results. Mistakes happen; rarely do people get it right on the first try and if you do – be pleasantly surprised!

Think of Thomas Edison – imagine if he would have given up after one or two tries? Either it would be pretty dark around here or someone else who is more persistent would have succeeded. Which to you want to be – the person who gives up or the one who is persistent and who eventually gets to where they want to go?