Stop Before You Ruin It!

I took a calligraphy workshop this weekend with the Friends of the Alphabet Guild. We studied texture in lettering. I drew these letters with Sumi Ink and a brush. I then borrowed a red pen from someone in class to add a little color. I had to think about where I wanted to add the color and where I needed to leave the white space. We were given the tip that if you think you need just a little bit more, stop before you ruin it. 

Stop before you ruin it, great advice for so many things. Stop talking before you say too much. Stop eating before you eat too much. Stop oversharing your idea as you need to give people time to process what you have shared. Stop writing and rewriting your report, just turn it in. Stop dominating the conversation, give someone else a chance to talk. Stop tinkering with the thing and let it rest. Stop thinking you know best and let someone else suggest an idea. Stop working towards perfection and let it go. There are so many things in life where we need to stop, yet how often are we situationally aware enough to actually stop?

When we drone on and on, and forget to think about what we’re doing…THAT is when we need someone to tell us to stop. Someone we trust to have our best interest in mind. When we had the urge to keep working on our calligraphy piece, someone in class usually shouted STOP and we got the message. We put down the pen and lived with what was on the page. 

Do you have someone in your life that can tell you to stop and you do it? Someone you trust? Someone you know has your best work in mind? Someone who wants to see you succeed and to bring out the best of you in everything you do? If you do not, find someone quickly. These rare people have made a HUGE difference in my creative and professional life.  They earned my trust and respect and have allowed me to move forward with confidence. When they say stop, I know it is time to stop before I ruin it.