Attain the Unattainable, and Be Happy Doing It
Expect the Unexpected and Soar to New Heights
As we go through life, we soon realize that it is not all clear sailing on a sunny day. Spouses may “cheat,” or may abandon you. Parents die. Even siblings or children may leave us, either because of unforeseen circumstances, or due to their indifference. Friends of convenience come and go. Nothing is certain and nothing, even the bad times, will last forever. Ultimately, one can only rely on oneself. With that thought firmly in place, it is always important to never give up on yourself. The world is full of “takers” and “users,” and sometimes, to a degree, that is ok, if you are a generous person and do not mind sharing and giving, for free!
The important point to remember is to not lose track of yourself when you are being bushwhacked and sidetracked by the issues of other people who often have their own agendas. In fact, show me a person without an agenda and I will show you a dog without fleas.
If you have a goal, stick to it, and do whatever you can to achieve that goal. If the prize is great, in terms of the final outcome of recognition or money, it will be much harder to achieve. Awards are earned, not given away (as used to be the motto of the master craftsman program in quilting of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America). High standards should not be compromised or certifications handed out loosely, because then, they are meaningless. At the same time, judges/committees should be fair-minded and supportive of those who are trying to achieve excellence in their field.
For nine long years, I worked to attain the title of master craftsman in quilting and I finally reached that goal in 2000. However, when I did, the only satisfaction was personal. There were no marching bands and no airplanes overhead with banners of congratulations. After all those years, the announcement came by e-mail, in a begrudging one word statement, “Pass.” It seemed as though the committee was ticked off that I had actually completed all the requirements, by jumping through hoops, and repeating two of the steps, waiting the required number of months to pass between submissions. The feedback for each submission consisted of one word sound bites of “ok” or “good” or “needs improvement.” There was no clear direction or help because it was not a “course”/ “It is a test.” At the top of the judges’ sheet were the three critical words with one of them circled: Pass, Provisional Pass, or Fail.
When I reached the sixth and last step of the program, I spent a year creating what I thought was a very unique and personal piece of work. Gleefully, I mailed it off to the judging site. I could call in after the judging to and hear whether the quilt passed, or not. A man answered on the other end of the line, and said, in his southern drawl, “Ma’am, that would be a “Not Pass.” I asked him to repeat what he’d said. Then, shaken and disappointed, I hung up the phone.
After regaining my confidence, which took quite a while, I figured out what I would make for the next submission. I was told, after that quilt was judged, that four people had stared at the quilt for three days, as it hung from a clothesline in the hot Texas sun. They determined that one of the block junctures was “one stitch” off from being perfect, and they really could not find a way to disqualify the entry.
So, after their pronouncement of “Pass,” I was then free to purchase the (expensive) pin that denotes master craftsman status, and was invited to attend an (expensive) convention, out of state, so that I could accept a red rose, in honor of my achievement. I was content, knowing that I had completed my goal, and learned so much more in the process, on my own, and not from anything anyone else had taught me about quilting.
Life is like that. You would not want a surgeon operating on you, if you knew that he or she had barely made it through medical school. Any kind of kudos one is able to garner, in life, have to be based on effort. Oh sure, some people skate by, and you will find a few incompetent nitwits in any field, and certainly, in life. In fact, lately, they seem to abound. You have to sidestep them constantly, but the important thing is to always remember who YOU are, and what goals YOU have set for yourself.
There are various certification programs offered by a number of organizations in quilt judging, quilt teaching, quilt appraiser training, etc. They all cost money, and they all take time, but once completed, they become part of your professional resumé, and in retrospect, they have helped you to grow and to stretch your knowledge base.
Keep up with the latest literature, like this book from the International Quilt Study Center:
Never say “no,” and never give up. Do what you have to do and show the world that you have the “right stuff.” We need achievers in this society of people whose credo is NOT, “good enough.” Achievers will lead and we need solid leaders who know what they are doing. My remarks could apply to any field of endeavor. We need less “know nothings” and “do nothings.” We need people who are happy because they are competent and sure that they can get the job done, no matter what, and no matter who, stands in their way.
“Don’t worry, be happy,” and be true to yourself. You’ll be glad you were.
Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications
