five things friday: the unexpected and begining anyway
Published: Fri, 11/22/24
November 22, 2024
Hello there,
As I write we are in the
middle of a bomb cyclone, atmospheric river combo which is as dramatic as it sounds. Basically there is massive amounts of rain falling, wind blowing, and all the accompanying weather hijinks. I am very happy to be safely tucked inside, warm and cozy, tapping away at these words for you.
I will have to brave the storm later, but that is this afternoon's problem. Now is about sharing some
life learning from opening my Etsy shop- which is about my oracle decks making their way into the world (and if you have purchased one, thank you from the bottom of my very full heart), but really not about that at all.
Shall we?
1.
When beginning something new you will never be able to anticipate and know all the details before hand. Expect something(s) unexpected. Begin anyway.
I am a researcher. I read all the instructions, google all the information, watch all the YouTube videos... basically I will exhaust myself trying to make sure I know exactly everything I need to know and what to do. And still, the unknown arises. It is the nature of life.
This kind of incessant information gathering and anticipatory problem solving can
masquerade as confusion and not being ready but it is more of an overactive need to protect myself from making mistakes. It stops forward movement, it can stop dreams from being made real. It is good to know when enough is enough, courageously push the button, begin, and trust you can figure out what you don't know when it happens. and when I say "you" I also totally mean "me".
2.
Asking for help, helps. Even when it doesn't solve
the problem at hand, it helps something.
I did not anticipate the complexity that shipping has been. Mostly because of lack of a functional printer at the moment (😩🤦♀️) and Thing 3 below.
What I thought was a work
around for labels printed at the post office was not at all. While I was swimming in anxiety and embarrassment the very patient postal lady was so kind, answered all my questions, more than once. She tried to help me understand how to get what I needed, even problem solving with me outside official post office duties. She explained things about shipping Etsy did not (or I missed it), looked at the app to help me find the right information, kept me from making a mistake that could come back to
bit me, and she let me know everything was fine and I was not a bother.
Even though she could not ship my packages at that time, her kindness helped ground me and assure me that once I figured these bits out it would easy going. When I came back the next day with everything in line she celebrated with me.
Sometimes we need someone
on the other side of the gap letting us know we can make it and that it is ok.
(There is a reason why our little Cotati post office was voted friendliest in California! The lady with the
reindeer on her head, that is my very helpful postal lady.)
3.
Surprises will happen.
It never occurred to me that people would want more than one deck. Some people have so I
needed bigger shipping boxes. People wanting multiple decks is very nice problem to have!
Problems come in all varies and some of them are kind of wonderful.
4.
Perfection is not a problem solving skill.
I had a vision for how I wanted my decks to arrive to those who want them. I bought lovely little boxes just perfect for a deck. I realized when packing that they would not work. Then the orders for multiple decks came in and, oops, I needed to let go of my vision. Compromise, not perfection was needed to get things in mail in a reasonable time.
Sometimes good enough is exactly what is needed. While my solution is not perfect, all decks are getting into the mail and to their new homes! There is a swirl of adjustments happening and over time the process will become easy and elegant.
And those sweet little boxes? Until they run out I am tucking each deck
into one before they go in the bigger shipping box. A deck within a box, within a box. All is working its way out, and it has been a swirl of imperfect adjustments.
Fine tuning, whether it is shipping, our work, ourselves, a garden, it happens over time as things unfold. It's ok. It is really ok to not have it figured out and to have unravel a bit.
Perfection does not allow growth or the possibility of something even better. (I am saying equally for myself and for you.)
I did not anticipate the number of orders that have come in this past week! A few decks still remain, ready to be shipped out to you if you are are called to have one for yourself or someone else. I have also ordered a second printing which should arrive next week.
