Just because something’s hard

Earlier this week, I did something a little scary. Like, I actually felt physical fear: stomach clenched, tunnel vision, the whole thing.

So what did I do? I took the plunge and bought an iPad Pro. I know that I am lucky that this is the kind of experience eliciting fear in my life. It is also objectively a big investment of my family’s limited resources. This is all to say, I feel some pressure to make good use of the thing.

My hope is to use this device to make beautiful digital lettering and designs. But…I am not good at it yet. I am not even as good at it as I am at drawing with a paper and pencil. The space between what I want to create and what I’m able to create feels vast at the moment. It’s enough to make me feel like something is terribly wrong, like I’ve made a huge mistake, like I want to scramble back to the Apple store and return it. After all, when things feel hard, sometimes it’s a clue that something is wrong and that I need to change course. But, sometimes, when things feel hard, it just means that something is…hard. And new things are hard. For everyone. So, I’m not going to return this iPad. I’m going to keep practicing.

Published by Emily P.G. Erickson

Emily P.G. Erickson is a freelance writer specializing in mental health and parenting. She has written for popular digital publications, including Everyday Health, Health, The New York Times, Parents, Romper, Verywell Mind, WIRED, and more. Emily is a professional member of the National Association of Science Writers (NASW), the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA), and the Association of Health Care Journalists (AHCJ). Previously, Emily researched PTSD for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and earned a master's in psychology. You can find the latest from Emily at www.emilypgerickson.com.

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