Happy Accidents

We don't make mistakes, just happy little accidents.

— Bob Ross

Solitude- Digital Art

When I was twelve or thirteen years old, I did a crafting project at girls' camp where we painted white bandanas. It was near the Fourth of July, and I had this super fun, patriotic design in my head. I could see it so clearly, but not even five minutes into the project, I dropped a big red splotch of paint onto my white handkerchief. I had a moment of devastation, mourning the loss of the idea I had envisioned. I tried desperately to wipe away the mistake, but only succeeded in smearing it across the fabric. I went over to the camp leader in charge of the project, showing her the mess, hoping I could start over. She smiled kindly but informed me that there were only enough materials for each person to have one. "It kind of looks like fireworks," she mused as I walked back to my seat.

I glanced at the mess, and I could see what she meant. The way the smear arched before fading to nothing was somewhat reminiscent of fireworks. An idea took hold. I began to blot the handkerchief with more dabs of red and blue paint, then smeared them all with my fingers. I'm not sure anyone would call the result great art, but I left the craft cabin with messy hands and a fun art project that I would treasure for a long time.

I wish I had the vision to see more of my mistakes as happy accidents. I think very visually, and when I begin a project, I often have a fairly clear idea of where I want it to go. I struggle to shift gears when things go wrong, as they inevitably will. However, I've found that when I take a step back, look at the mess in front of me, and think, "What can I make from what I've got?" I spend less time agonizing over the details and more time enjoying the creative process. It doesn’t always result in a masterpiece, but creating art is also about the experience. Masterpiece or not, enjoying the process is a win.

This mindset transcends creativity and spills over into real life. When things go wrong, as they inevitably will, do we fret and fuss, or do we tell ourselves, "What can I make from what I've got?" Tough times are easier to navigate when we seek the blessings that come from the hard things—and the vast majority of the time, there are blessings to be found. For me, it’s a struggle to be flexible and resilient at times, so I’m writing these words as much for myself as for anyone else. I always want to be on the lookout in my work and in life for “happy little accidents.”