As we’ve settled back into classes for 2026, I’ve been reminded of a humbling experience from many years ago — one that has stayed with me ever since. It’s a story I’ve shared in some classes, so you may have heard it before.
I once enrolled in a lead lighting course, full of excitement and enthusiasm. In the very first session, we made simple sun catchers. I loved it so much that I went straight home and promptly bought glass, lead, a glass cutter, pliers, books and patterns. Feeling inspired, I chose to make a penguin. I completed it during the week, but when the next class came around, I didn’t bring it with me. It wasn’t perfect, and I was quietly disappointed in myself.
During class, we were asked to share what we’d worked on at home. I admitted I’d made a sun catcher but hadn’t brought it because it wasn’t perfect. My teacher looked at me, paused, and then said — very directly — “What gives you the right to think you can do something perfectly after one session?” He sent me home to fetch it, and when I returned, that sentence landed even more firmly.
It was one of the most important lessons I’ve ever learned. Rather than feeling embarrassed or giving up, I kept going. I continued with the course and, over time, went on to create a lead light window for our kitchen — a piece I’m still very proud of, and one I’ll include a photo of in this newsletter.
Striving for perfection can steal joy, curiosity and courage — especially when we’re beginners. Tai Chi and Qigong remind us again and again that learning is a process, not a performance. And this doesn’t stop once we become more experienced. As we progress, we inevitably meet new challenges and unfamiliar ideas that feel awkward and difficult at first. Learning Chen, Sword, Fu Chen or Fan can place us right back in the position of beginner, asking us to be patient, open-minded and kind to ourselves. Each step, wobble, mistake and discovery is part of the path. When we let go of the need to be perfect, we give ourselves permission to truly learn — and that’s where the real magic happens.