I often think about what it would have been like to meet Winston Churchill. Such a strong, almost mythical leader and orator, galvanizing a nation during one of its darkest times. History tells us that, like the rest of us, he wasn't perfect but he was an avid reader constantly learning.
Switching careers after maternity leave I feel like I am constantly learning. I often feel frustrated and just want to know it all now.
But a huge part of the Cactus Revival ethos is about embracing the imperfect. It’s in our tagline, and it’s obviously evident in our clothing, but it’s more than that. It’s not just about embracing a mended garment. We’re all juggling multiple things at a time; family life, work, school, study, weekend sports and activities - housework! To seek perfection in all these areas is, quite frankly, insane.
And yet I still fall for it.
With my mending I question; what’s the ‘right’ way to mend this? What if I do it wrong? What if it doesn’t work? What if it looks terrible?!
When I have a clear head, I catch myself and switch my mindset. If the mend doesn’t work out, at least I’ve given it a crack. If I do it ‘wrong’ or it looks naff, then I’ve learnt something. The garment isn’t going to judge me on the repair work I perform on it!
Mending our clothing is a skill that has been lost for a little while, and my generation wasn’t really taught how to sew. But like any skill, we can learn it. We can teach ourselves by having a crack and by making mistakes; we don’t have to be perfect.
Do you have something that you’d like to mend but are scared to give it a go? You might be surprised at your abilities once you give it try.
Obviously at Cactus we teach workshops, but there are also loads of videos on YouTube that can help, and often all you need is a needle and thread. Give it a crack, let me know how you go!
