I'm sick of half assing

[@LaurieWalker207]

My bucket list is to address half-assery that's been dragging me down all my life. I'm in my 50s and taking swimming lessons. I always talked about that, always said I should... self taught... not confident or fully enjoying swimming but wanting to so badly... so I saw this video about a month ago, and looked up local lessons. and signed up. The "I shoulds" are really tough to address sometimes. It's a commitment to one's self and the feeling that, in this one precious life, it's worth it to give it our best. Love your channel. Thanks for all your kind encouragement.

[@leanewton6758]

Danny you are the Sketchbook Skhool founder, sketch book artist, teacher, writer and now therapist! Such a great message. Never give up and never stop learning.

[@TheMrsWarhol]

I just found and love your channel, Danny!! I can relate with (and learn so much from) not only your instruction but commentary. You’re so brave to be so publicly vulnerable. Thank you!!! Get yourself a beautiful day!!!

[@sandramillar9067]

Oh wow! Your example of the swimming is SO helpful…. and the toolbox… 👍 you open the door on an automatic response most of us do, staying stuck in halfway modes. Thank you!

[@lauraking1331]

Your relentless appetites for learning, creating, trying, DOING are contagious. Thank you!

[@moot9798]

you’re an incredibly compelling and persuasive speaker.

[@calmblueocean1177]

There’s another side. We often ignore the advice of those who want to help us. We often think we already know how to do things because of pride or ego or time constraints. ❤ love your videos, thanks

[@beemcquinn4270]

I love writing. It's my 'escape'. I got to the library, walk the shelves and couldn't find anything to read. In frustration, I began to write my own stories, and found a really great something within the craft.

[@SketchBookSkool]

Thanks for sharing!

[@mariusmik1675]

This hit hard. And exactly at the right time. Thank you for your words

[@spursstarwarssupernova]

Thank you so much for sharing your ideas and lessons with us. I’m a young artist and I’m self taught for the most part with regard to art. I’m using my summer to learn as much as I can about it and I’m trying to practice as much as possible. I recently found your channel and I must say, I’ve never left one of your videos without feeling inspired and just a little wiser. I love the stories you tell and the way that you put things into perspective. Thank you for helping me to be more creative and for inspiring me to keep working to improve my craft. Always a pleasure to receive your essays and to see a new upload from you ❤️

[@SketchBookSkool]

You are so welcome, Keep up the art!

[@larenacornell5678]

I missed so much in life...no one bothered to teach me...just passed me by...for years. Ppl chastise me for not doing it the "correct", "proper" way. If you are having to wing-it...you do what you can, as you can, how you can. There are many ways to do things. More thane only ONE way. It's really great that there is KZbin, where you can look up nearly anything you would like to understand better. That is how I do much of my learning nowdays. I also find...ppl SAY things are too hard...w/out taking the time to TRY...putting some effort into them. They tell themselves they can't do it. Most of the time...things are easier than we make them out to be. With me...I get bogged in the details...or if I have a question...there is no one to ask, or I cannot formulate the question itself bc I don't know the terminology to use to ask the question I want answered. Thank you for the inspiration, Danny. You...are like the father figure I wish I had growing up... You exude warm, friendly encouragement & quiet humor. Practicality & honesty. You're refreshing in these times we are living in. Thank you! Hugs! ❤

[@r.mucklin1703]

I've found that "winging it" can sometimes lead to very creative problem solving---that is, if you actually want to solve the problem and are not just sloppy. Of course, where survival of one sort or another is at stake winging it can also get you killed or it can hurt someone else. So we have to be careful in what areas we wing it, and that's where the more creative parts of living come into play. Winging it with creativity often leads to surprising outcomes.

[@JulieHiltbrunner]

I really want to take roller skating lessons. I'm getting pretty good from KZbin videos. Since April almost everyday, as my knees and back allow I practice. I've been posting my progress daily on Facebook. It's getting quite the positive response. Now to find that real instructor!

[@r.mucklin1703]

It has often been said that "When the student is ready the teacher will appear." I have found that to be a lie, and sometimes we have to struggle all our lives to master something. Sometimes we succeed and sometimes we don't. But in the meantime don't give up on your passion and learn all you can whatever way you can and practice, practice, practice, and be willing to change when you've discovered you have entrenched a bad habit , and then practice some more.

[@cleols5433]

You have worded the theme beautiffully !! 🙏❤

[@mamemckee2190]

You are a very interesting person, Danny. I found you initially while looking for a video for my middle school art class as they finished the year. I gave them fresh sketchbooks, playful drawing prompts and your encouragement. Now I see this one and the depth of your kindness. What a lovely way to use the art form of KZbin. Thank you.

[@SketchBookSkool]

Wow, thank you!

[@WorldWideWebObserver]

Hello from Texas Mr. Gregory!🌷 Thanks for your thought-provoking ideas. Also, I think you’re a great speaker.

[@SketchBookSkool]

Thanks for listening

[@agold1702]

Wow. I sit here convicted and challenged by what you shared. Every area of my life needed to hear this. Thank you!

[@alisonhendry2928]

Loving your essays! Some how your words just connect with me. Oh wait I know why… hard work! ☺️ loved the swimming story! I too took REAL lessons as an adult in my 40’s desperately wanting to learn the front crawl. Now I swim without effort three times a week. Despite painting since childhood I filled my adult time with REAL lessons and now teach beginners and keep taking lessons. Love your words of wisdom, thank you for sharing. 🙏

[@debbiefarmen8195]

Not only a wonderful artist but a therapist, life coach, cheerleader! Thank you so much for your insights and wisdom…oh and for the fine art teaching 🥰

[@SketchBookSkool]

Wow, thank you!

[@monikaazariah9237]

This hit home hard ...Danny you are fantastic with your words...and am exquisite artist...thank you for everything you do ☺️🙏

[@SketchBookSkool]

You are so welcome!

[@abailey4226]

I cry every time I watch you! You and I need to have a chat 😊

[@adriennerichter425]

Thank you again, Danny. I love these simple essays on getting ahead and not stressing about where you are at the moment. I'm trying to learn to draw at age 77. I've sort of always sketched, but now I see what others are doing and I freeze; I'm not good enough and I'll never be good enough. Thanks for your inspiration.

[@SketchBookSkool]

I'm glad the essays are helpful! Enjoy your art!

[@shanash1]

SO good, Danny-thank you!

[@irmapudra4571]

Your videos are just like warm hugs. Thank you! 🎈

[@SketchBookSkool]

I'm so glad!

[@deborahwalker5574]

Thank You Danny.

[@ninawilliams2499]

Thank you for this inspiring and empowering message. You are so nice.

[@faceit9331]

Thank you for your words of wisdom Danny, it’s inspiring and very much appreciated. Kind regards, Alan 😊

[@samantams]

This is absolutely accurate, no one wants to read manuals, they just want to get from zero to superstar in a second. We live very fast times, things change too quickly for our analog brains - if only people would realize that analog is how we function, they would grow so much. By doing analog activities, of course! Reading, drawing, painting, learning... and simply for the pleasure of it, not aiming "success". Happiness is not that hard to find when you know what it truly means.

[@alisonhendry2928]

Yes yes yes!!! So we’ll said and I totally agree! What happened to the journey? Why is it always the destination???

[@samantams]

@@alisonhendry2928 right?? The joy of watching someone dancing ballet or playing classical music lasts for that moment, but how long did they practice? You can only achieve that level of results if you invest time - real, not virtual - and you’ll only invest time on the things you learn to love. We should all fall in love with the right things in life! 😊

[@amp9930]

Loving your message and superb delivery Danny. Just in a time when I've realised that I've been neglecting my own art for decades and using all my energy to teach others. I've started to paint again and re found my love of painting and can't understand why I ever stopped doing what I loved doing for so many years. Your videos have come to me just at the right time. I'll be showing my students your videos and hopefully your insight and message will stick with them for their artistic futures.

[@SketchBookSkool]

Wonderful I hope they enjoy!

[@stevezytveld6585]

Lovely essay, Mr. Danny. Learning is lifelong applies to any definition of the different types of work. No matter how much you know, or think you know, there's always more. When I was 18 and first in university I signed up for swimming lessons in the -2 cm olympic sized pool. I eventually got my shaking knees up to the highest dive platform (don't know how those Olympic kids handle the height). Right now I'm at the point in my mid-life where it feels like I'm relearning everything. Seems to be a trend... - Cathy (&, accidently, Steve), Ottawa/Bytown/Pimisi

[@thuggy1]

Very true what you say. The other part of the same problem is to make choices. What is important enough to put a lot of energy and time into it. Then giving it a fixed place in your life.

[@annadreamsart9756]

Thank you. I feel seen. lol. This came at the perfect time. The "knowing I don't actually know" may be the reason behind my fear of failure.

[@SketchBookSkool]

You are so welcome

[@phyllisweaver8911]

That I have struggled all of my life to reach a type of ....self assumed perfection is only the tip of my giant iceberg made up of “WTH” moments. I was exactly like so many other people. I have always just accepted the title, “Jack of all trades, master of none.” Longing so deeply to experience pride in my own accomplishments without needing a shower of accolades from my friends and family. Trying and having only a small measure of success. I have realized how much I hated (and still HATE) trying again and again and making the SAME mistakes over and over. Expensive ones sometimes depending on the thing I had hoped would become my niche. All because I was trying to start whatever I desired to do at the finish line where it feels the most rewarding. Now I realize that success demands our willingness to take time to listen and pay attention and an investment of self at every level. Sorry to say but, “thanks to youtube.” I have learned so much in the last year. I am seeing the fruit from my vineyard is actually beginning to produce some wine that I like drinking. loI Thank you for sharing your thoughts

[@olderendirt]

This gives me pause to rethink many things I've neglected to learn well or avoided learning. I'm still not learning algebra though. Discernment is also important. Thanks!

[@r.mucklin1703]

My first question here is: Why do you want to learn algebra? Is it a necessity in your life? Oris it just because you never understood it in high school and feel shame? Or is it just because ------ for no reason at all? Actually I do understand that. Sometimes it's just because IT'S THERE, like a mountain that someone is determined to climb. It's a challenge even if it is no longer useful in your particular life.

[@leonormartinez6378]

This resonated with me. Thank you so much. I love your channel.

[@SketchBookSkool]

So glad!

[@cevers1920]

Oh my god...I'm not the only one! thanks Danny

[@alexis5350]

You are so great at this!

[@SketchBookSkool]

Thanks!

[@rk_7088]

You are so so inspiring. Thanks for sharing your wisdom 🙏

[@SketchBookSkool]

You are so welcome

[@jayvee3462]

Yup, that is me up to 5:50. Learning to draw I am most hesitant and fearful of.

[@emmafreeman7740]

So needed that ...

[@smoothsketch]

One of the things that impressed me greatly was taking an elective credit in art class at university and not being taught about the tools or techniques of art. All that was done was to give me projects or tasks and leave me to teach myself about the materials (the art secrets). That is a strong impression that I have to this day about art education. That's art professor stamp of approval on half assing. Not even books of thorough instruction on the materials or techniques were assigned.

[@rustinst.claire2006]

That was my same experience with a beginner painting class in university. It taught me nothing. I suppose it forced me to do art, and gave me a space to do it in, but that was it.

[@CandlelightCrow]

Exactly my experience too at Art College

[@mattsadventureswithart5764]

@@CandlelightCrow its people sharing experiences like yours that puts people like me off the idea of going to art college as an older person. I have a desire to learn and grow, but am scared it will be a waste of my time and money.

[@CandlelightCrow]

@@mattsadventureswithart5764 Oh please don't let me put you off. I wouldn't have missed my art college days for anything! it just wasn't about "here's how you draw fur/clothing/metal" etc as I'd thought it would be, it was far more about self exploration. What it was though was being surrounded by like-minded creatives and we all pooled our knowledge by seeing what each person produced in answer to each brief. I've never regretted any educational experience, even if it wasn't exactly what I thought it would be. None of it was wasted. Research each course but know that you can change courses any time. It really depends on what course you choose because art is such a huge subject (I studied graphics with emphasis on drawing and illustration) :)

[@r.mucklin1703]

Teaching these days is superficial in many areas, not only in art. My family was educated mostly in European schools and ALL children had to learn the very basics of art: the circle, square and triangle which, with shading, turned into a ball, a box and a pyramid. So my father taught me that basic when I was still in kindergarten, and it opened worlds for me. Somehow we have accepted mediocrity even in our colleges because "it would stifle our creativity" and if a teach is very dogmatic that can be the case. But most of the time learning the basics gives us the opportunity to then expand our creativity. Even Picasso learned the basics of drawing before he distorted what he saw into his own style. It's too bad our contemporary colleges seem to have forgotten that principle because it would "hurt someone's feelings".

[@sophiadrenth2191]

Big thumbs up for this video. Due to chronic ilness I'm mostly self taught. I hate thet feeling of I'm half assing my way through life.

[@szenka43]

This was thought provoking and beautiful at the same time.✨ Thank You for sharing! 💖

[@SketchBookSkool]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@PIGGLEWIGGINS]

As fate would have it, I just watched a video with the opposite message. That many people don't pursue things because they can't be the best at them. If they can't be the best gardener, chef, or dancer they won't even try. It's important to participate and even be mediocre at most things than to shut down and quit. We can't excel at everything so we need to be somewhat selective. Both points of view are valid though. And not everyone can afford to take a class or get a coach.

[@mattsadventureswithart5764]

The thing is that there are many thousands of teachers on KZbin and they're there for just about every subject one can think of. Not every lesson costs money, most only require attention and effort.

[@PIGGLEWIGGINS]

@@mattsadventureswithart5764 Hi Matt. I meant a real life coach. I've probably watched 1000 online tutorials.

[@PIGGLEWIGGINS]

I've been thinking about this all day. Not only am I half-assing everything, I'm probably 1/4 assing everything. Every since I became a caregiver 2 1/2 years ago, I barely have time to sleep. It's kind of like throwing ten knives at a target and hoping one sticks.

[@r.mucklin1703]

As a child that was the message I got, "Do it perfectly or don't do it at all." That message intimidated me for most of my life and still does to an extent. Personally I needed someone to tell me that imperfection and making a mess was OK as long as you are making progress, but I think that monkey on your back that screams you aren't good enough is always there, and it's so hard to shut it up. That's why someone like Danny has been so helpful to so many people as he has been teaching ways to quiet that screaming monkey down.

[@r.mucklin1703]

@@PIGGLEWIGGINS Caretaking is one of the things we "must" do and we have little to no choice about it, and it's one of the hardest jobs there is. So do the best you can with that while you must. When you are in that situation I believe it's OK to half-ass other passions. Sometimes just reading about your passion or watching you tubes will have to do in order to keep your synapses in the general area until you get more time. So hang in there and do NOT let guilt feelings overcome you. This too shall pass, and there is reason for it all whether we recognize it or not.

[@r.mucklin1703]

While what Danny says is quite true about half-assing a lot of things we do, the fact is that all of us have onlye 24 hours in a day and we have to pick and choose what we wish to master. It's kind of like learning to draw. You first have to learn to "see". Most of the time our minds are in a survival mode, such as when we cross a street and see a car coming in our direction. Our minds say "Car coming, get out of the way!!!" We might quickly note the color of the car or the general make, but our first job is to get out of the way. When we draw a car, correctly, however, we are forced to "see it", not only the color, but the shape of the body, the grille, the doors and windows, the angles and the curves, etc. For that we have to slow way down. There is no time for that while we are crossing a street, so our minds go into survival mode, and that mode is used so much that it becomes a habit and we forget about the "seeing" mode. Life is sort of like that. We note things quickly because there's no time to actually "see", but sometimes we have to slow down with something we are passionate about and actually want to learn. So we have to be discriminating. Personally I have so many interests that it was hard for me to choose, but since my first passion is art and watercolor painting, that's what I've concentrated on, while still, to this day, sometimes wishing I had concentrated on music or architecture or fashion design, but between all my duties as a wife, mother, working woman, cook, hostess, chauffeur, nurse and all the other "must do's" to survive I had to choose one, and it's kept me pretty happy right into old age. Sometimes as we age we get to choose a few more subjects to master or we are granted the time for a little while to get better at our first choice, and sometimes we are not. At age 84 my eyes are not what they used to be and neither is my energy level, but I'm thankful for all the years I had in which I had the privilege of honing my craft.

[@allieeverett9017]

I've lived my whole life dog paddling...so as not to drown. Your illustration resonates.

[@r.mucklin1703]

Most of the time I think it's OK to dog paddle through life. We have only so much time and energy for the many "must do" things, and so we have to pick and choose the areas we don't want to just dog paddle in, and do that with passion.

[@julieearl]

Thank you for your always insightful and interesting takes on all things art and human related. I am just starting on the journey to being awake instead of just getting by. so thankful for your insights.🤟💯🤩

[@nancywalter7555]

Love this!!!!!

[@suzeca-22]

I think you’re partially right… I feel like it’s part of everyone’s uniqueness to develop their own way. I had swimming lessons when I was a child but I never found them useful. I could never swim the way they wanted me to swim I always sucked in water and it felt unnatural. I’ve always been a water baby and so was my mom. She was always in a swim cap 😂 but in the end I swam the way that felt natural for me. I think there is something to be said for going to art school. You can see the difference. On the other hand I heard Joni Mitchell say once that going to art school ruined her creativity. I like to learn.. but I’ve noticed I don’t like someone else’s way being overlayed into mine. So, maybe a person just has to pick and choose. Let ourselves be influence when it feels right otherwise leave it.

[@r.mucklin1703]

Learning something new or learning it to perfection is partially about learning the basics and then finding your own way, especially in the creative endeavors. It becomes almost impossible when you have a pedantic teacher who insists there is only his/her way. However, even from a teacher like that you can learn something along the way and then do it your way later. The trouble is that the negative monkey you've been loaded down with will always be hounding you, but I guess you can consider that monkey a challenge to overcome. Danny is a great teacher by helping in that battle.

[@teamirina3587]

thank you, really

[@SketchBookSkool]

You're welcome!

[@nishasankaran]

Wow 💗🙏🏾

[@mplcreative]

I'm stubborn. I always have to do things Mindy's Way which causes me not to learn correctly. I agree with what you say here.

[@nancywalter7555]

Danny... have you read Bird by Bird, by Anne Lamott? Best book on writing... especially for a visual person. Oldie but a goldie.

[@renzo6490]

I bought a new phone..Not a cell phone. Not a smart phone. A simple land line phone. It came with an instruction book. I was willing to follow the instructions. But they were not "user friendly ". I was offered a dizzying number of options...most of which I didn't care about or want. They included terms that I was not familiar with...usually acronyms or initials. I looked a few up. But the explanation of the acronyms included other unfamiliar terms and concepts. I was down the Rabbit Hole. How to program my phone message...did I want them to leave a message, call back? Did I want to say that I was out of town or 'not answering at the moment '? The Instruction manual contained drawings that were faint and printing that was microscopic. Space was being saved because the manual was printed in 3 languages besides English. And the English section was translated from Japanese by someone who did not understand English ! The Base of the phone had buttons ... "Flash" "VCID" "Menu/Select" " INT " "Redial" "Pause" " "Delete" "Skip" " Repeat" "Tone" "Quiet" I just wanted to make calls and answer calls I resented the impenetrable complexity. Now, when I don't answer the phone, the caller hears.a generic, default, recorded message that came with the phone. People ask me why I don't record my own personal message. Yeah...like THAT'S gonna happen!

[@sandradonofrio413]

👍👍👍