I can’t… yet.
Peter Reynolds’ book, The Dot, is a children’s story (for everyone), with a few simple lessons. The book opens with Vashti sitting in art class, slumped over her paper with nothing on it. Her teacher attempts to lighten the mood with a few jokes, but Vashti is convinced - “I just can’t draw!” Her teacher’s response is simple - “Just make a mark and see where it takes you.” So, Vashti does just that. She stabs the paper with her marker, makes a dot in the middle of the page and says, “There!” Her teacher replies, “Now, sign it.”
When Vashti arrived in class the following week her teacher had framed her dot and it was hanging on the wall. From that moment on, Vashti worked to make the best dots she could. She made dots of every size, color and design. When the school art show opened, Vashti’s dots made quite a splash! Vashti was an artist.
The story ends with a young boy coming up to Vashti to say, “You’re a really great artist! I wish I could draw!” Like Vashti in the beginning of the story, the little boy held the belief that he could not draw. Vashti encouraged him to make a mark and sign it, sharing what she learned with someone new.
So, what are the lessons here?
Lesson 1: The words “I can’t” are very powerful. Sure, I know there are some things I can’t do, like win the Olympics (I’m way too old to get started). However, beyond these obvious limitations, the word "can't" often becomes a barrier to things we choose not to pursue out of fear or doubt.
Saying "I can't" might prevent us from trying something new, reaching out to someone in need, or even pursuing a passion that could bring immense joy. Fear of failure is often behind the shield of "can't." We use it to protect ourselves from the discomfort of uncertainty or the sting of potential disappointment. Yet, it's precisely these moments of uncertainty and challenge that offer the greatest opportunities for growth and fulfillment.
What if we shifted our thinking from, “I can’t,” to “I can’t yet, but I’m working on it.”?
Lesson 2: Art, like anything else we learn to do, takes practice. When I first picked up a paintbrush I didn’t understand why the images in my head were not coming out on the paper! When I was willing to let go of expectations and trust the process I was able to improve and progress through practice.
Similarly, when Vashti began her artistic journey, she made one tiny dot on a piece of paper. Having that one, tiny grain of success, she began to dedicate herself to the process. Through practice and repetition she honed her craft and developed her skills. Finally, Vashti thought of herself as an artist.
Lesson 3: Once we have learned something, it is important that we share it. If Vashti had taken her gift and walked away from the little boy, the story would end there. But Vashti knew she was given a gift, and she had a responsibility to pass it on.
Today, find a way to make your dot.
Artfully,