It’s never too late to go back to the basics and find joy in starting small.

Over the past few months, I have been reminding my clients that it’s okay to allow yourself to learn and not expect to know how to start a business, set boundaries, or feel enough after spending 30 years feeling otherwise.

Somehow, we think that if we reach a certain age, we must be great at everything.

I desperately wanted to do puzzles and bought a few beautiful 1000-piece sets. I ended up giving most of them away because I couldn’t do them. I had zero patience and, when I did puzzles with someone good at it, I would eventually just observe them, feeling even more upset and discouraged inside.

Then, my dear friend Kim Butterfield suggested I start with 250-piece puzzles. I liked the idea, but it was still a bit hard for me, which took me a while to admit.

Recently, on a sidewalk in Park Slope, I found two sets of 100-piece puzzles. My first thought was that they would be great for Lulu (6 years old) and Lili (3 years old), and I could do them with the kids.

Eventually, I did them by myself, and it was the perfect number of pieces for me. It took me an hour or so, didn’t require much patience, and nobody was around. My inner 6-year-old was so excited.

So, I decided that for now, I will do 100-piece puzzles.

Summary

1. Start Small: It’s okay to begin with manageable tasks and build from there.
2. Self-Acceptance: Allow yourself to be a learner at any age.
3. Find Joy: Embrace activities that bring excitement and satisfaction, no matter how simple.

This blog post is your permission to start small at something.