The Joy of Being a Beginner
There is something slightly terrifying about being a beginner again. Right now, for example, I'm learning how to build a website.Which sounds fairly straightforward until you actually start doing it.
Suddenly you're confronted with words like domains, DNS, templates, navigation, sections, blocks, SEO and approximately 47 buttons that you're afraid to press because you have no idea what they're going to do.
But here I am, figuring it out, and it has reminded me of something I think is really important:
We should never stop learning.
It's very easy to stick with the things we're already good at. We know what we're doing, we know how things work and there is a certain comfort in that but trying something completely different puts you back into that wonderfully awkward position of not knowing.
You have to experiment, make mistakes, Google things (thanks ChatGPT too) and you need to ask questions.
I’m occasionally staring at the screen wondering why on earth I thought this was a good idea, but eventually, something clicks and I’m actually building this website. I’m learning something new and suddenly something that seemed completely unfamiliar is starting to make sense.
Plants are exactly the same.
You might be an experienced gardener who can identify dozens of plants, propagate cuttings, prune with confidence and know exactly when to plant your tomatoes.
But there is always another plant to discover, another growing technique, another strange botanical adaptation, another flower you've never grown.
Maybe being fascinated by a bit of plant biology makes you stop and think, "I didn't know plants could do that." Perhaps you've never tried growing something from seed or divided a perennial.
You don't have to become an expert.
Sometimes it's enough to simply be curious. Try growing something you've never grown before or learn the name of a plant you've walked past a hundred times.
So many things you could explore. Learn what that strange botanical word actually means or try a different propagation technique, maybe even make a flower arrangement.
Because learning isn't always about becoming better at something, it's simply about making your world a little bigger and that's one of the things I love most about plants.
There is always something else to learn.
So, while I'm currently teaching myself how to build a website, I'm also reminding myself that being a beginner isn't something to be embarrassed about.
It's an opportunity.
Stretch yourself.
Try something different.
Be curious.
Make mistakes.
You might just discover something wonderful.
The Botanical Curator
Horticulture • Floristry • Education • Engagement
Let's grow something interesting. 🌿