Why I Do Projects | Whitney Beth Photography | Utah Family Photographer
 

Most people are not like me. They don’t decide to build a mantle from scratch while in the throws of morning sickness. Or decide, at 7 months pregnant that a 30 ft x 2 ft long garden box is all of a sudden at the top of the priority list. And it’s not just when I’m pregnant either - although that definitely doesn’t help. My very first woodworking project was when I decided to build a bench from a bunch of spare 2x4’s in our garage after we lost banks. Around the same time I tackled redoing and reupholstering a free library chair that I transformed from scratchy, 80’s bleh to chic, mid century modern cohesion with the rest of my furniture. In fact, my love of projects has lead me to have a pretty well stocked collection of power tools that leaves my Dad asking me for advice on his projects. If you were to look at my life and my plate that I’m balancing; being a mom to a bunch of boys, pregnant every other year, two dogs, running a business, being involved in my church and community, etc, you might think I’m crazy for all my projects.

And you’d be right.

But you see, somehow my brain and personality thrives off of chaos and stacked to-do lists. In fact, I make daily lists of what I need to accomplish that day and even include things that I’ve already gotten done for the day, just so I can cross it off.
I love learning a new creative skill, especially when it comes to making my home more my home filled with things I have done to make it just right for me. Call my chaos my creative outlet. Which might confuse you, since I’m a photographer and teach art classes - but like anything else that you do for a living, it becomes work, and even I need a new creative outlet for my creative outlet turned business.

It’s important to have hobbies and something that can ground us and give ourselves some “me” time.

I also love that I’m able to teach my boys through example that you can do anything if you set your mind to it. I even try to have them “help” at least once a project, just so that they feel involved and get that sense of accomplishment.

So I do projects for me. To give me something to work on while I think, to show my kids that they’re capable of anything, to keep me busy during emotional times, and heck, just for the fun of it. I learned it was better to take action and figure out how to do something than stare at that blank wall and wish it was different. Taking charge and getting stuff done helps ground me, and I love it.