For someone who always did well in school, I can be an incredibly slow learner. I’ve finally figured out that it’s way less stressful to begin to tackle home maintenance issues bit by bit, rather than to remain paralyzed by fear of how extensive or expensive something might turn out to be. I get frustrated with myself, but learning slowly isn’t always a bad thing. The various impressionists who used this place certainly kept at it for a while.

And I’ve been learning French little by little for the past fifteen years, decades longer than that, if you count my first class in fifth grade and my subsequent start-stop efforts. What matters is that I can now actually carry on a conversation, even if there’s still plenty to learn.

I’m also making slow but steady progress in Spanish. I actually had a tiny exchange of words (calling it a conversation would be a massive exaggeration) with a native Spanish-speaker working on one of the aforementioned maintenance issues at my house.

Yes, I know I can’t seem to figure out that if I want more of this . . .

I should actually leave my house.

If I want to see more sunrises like these . . .

I should get up earlier. If I want to improve on the piano, I should play it on a regular basis. If I want more of my poems to be published, I should submit more of them for consideration.

I get it, all these and more. Maybe you do, too, now that we’re at the end of January and ambitious New Year’s resolutions may be feeling unsustainable. How about we grant ourselves a little grace?

Maybe it’s fine to play the piano as well as I can whenever I can and leave it at that, to be proud of the poems that have been published and to send out more only when a specific contest or opportunity feels like a good fit. Less angst, more savoring.

Why not simply accept that sunsets can also be beautiful?

Even here, right out my back door.

And if seeing more sunsets than sunrises fits my life, what’s wrong with that? Not one thing.

So as I write this, I’m praying you keep at it, whatever “it” is for you, but also that you give yourself grace when you’re not perfect or immediately brilliant or making progress at the speed of light. I’m praying for you grace and encouragement and peace every faltering step of the way.