avatarLeonora watkins

Summary

The author reflects on their own lack of artistic ability compared to their sister Sam, whose drawing of a reindeer was so poor it made their niece Alex cry during a family Christmas gathering.

Abstract

The author of the article discusses the feeling of inadequacy when comparing oneself to the talented individuals on Medium. Despite practicing daily for a year, the author admits to being unable to write poetry or draw well. However, the author's sister Sam is portrayed as even less skilled in drawing, as evidenced by an incident where her drawing of a reindeer reduced her daughter Alex to tears. This event is humorously recounted in the context of a family Christmas, with the author's mother baking Christmas puddings in the background. The article concludes with an encouragement to readers, suggesting that no matter how much one might struggle with a skill, they have likely never caused someone else to cry with their efforts, as Sam did.

Opinions

  • The author expresses envy towards the talented individuals on Medium, indicating a sense of inferiority.
  • Despite practice, the author believes they lack innate talent for poetry and drawing.
  • The author humorously portrays their sister Sam's drawing as exceptionally poor, to the point of being upsetting.
  • The author's mother is described as a skilled baker but a poor cook, suggesting a personal perspective on her culinary abilities.
  • The article conveys a light-hearted tone regarding the family's Christmas traditions and the mother's role in them.
  • The author uses the anecdote about Sam's drawing to provide perspective and encouragement to readers who may feel discouraged by their own abilities.

You Might Be Bad At Something.

But have you ever been so bad you made someone cry?

There are so many talented people on Medium it makes me sick with envy. From talented painters to poetic wordsmiths, abilities abound. I can’t write poetry. It is just not within me to do so. And I can’t draw. Before anyone says it takes practice, I did. I practised every day for a full year and never got any better. But no matter how much like mulch my rose drawings looked, they will never be as bad as my older sister Sam’s artistic offerings.

You see, Sam was apparently so terrible at drawing that she made someone cry!

Christmas

We were sitting around the table one year when Alex, my 5-year-old niece, who would kill me if she knew I was writing this, was colouring in at the dining room table. My mother was making her usual batches of Christmas puddings that people pre-ordered, she was/is a very good baker. A terrible cook, but a very good baker. People would ask her to make their Christmas puddings every year and pay her for them. She only ever charged them money for ingredients, not time, as she always said she was cooking them for us anyway. And us, meant her, my dad, and my sister, Mandy. Nobody else liked Christmas pudding. Fruitcake is gross.

Photo by Edward Howell on Unsplash

So, with it being around the Christmas period, Alex asked Sam to draw a picture of a reindeer for her to colour in. Accepting the challenge, Sam took the paper and pencils and got to work. A few moments later, Sam emerged victorious with a drawing of what was, apparently, a reindeer. Proudly handing it to her delightful offspring, she was taken aback when Alex began to cry. Not just a few tears, a full-on wail at how revolting she found my sister’s attempt at art!

Take Heart!

So, the next time you feel disheartened by your attempt at something. Maybe you think you could have done better, or your inner critic is telling you how much you suck. Just remember that you’ve never been so very terrible at something that you made another human being cry.

Funny
Art
Talent
Fun
Kids
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