There is no 'Try'

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Yoda, everyone's favorite green...thing, famously said "Do or do not. There is no 'try'." Well folks, I'm here to tell you that Yoda was wrong.

Yup. There, I said it. Now I shall burn in the flames eternal. But before I bask in brimstone, I beseech you, my brethren, to bear with me in my bumblingness. In other words, lemme e'splain...




He wasn't all wrong, that Yoda, he just missed the mark. I'm sure it was the perfect thing to say in that situation, but it is not a phrase to live by, generally. There is plenty of respect in trying. In fact, I don't think people try enough. Most people I know will try something once and if they don't get it perfect the first time well then they just give up and walk away. Trying is how we learn. Nothing amazing was ever created on the first try. If anything worth doing could be completed on a solo attempt we would not have such phrases as: "Back to the drawing board"; "If at first you don't succeed, Try, try again!"; "If you fall off the horse, you've got to get back in the saddle", etc.

The point is to keep going. If you keep falling short of your goal, there's usually a reason for it. Perhaps you need to put it down, stash it away, box it up for another day. Eventually, the time will be right and you can go back and complete the song/story/painting/bucket list goal you started. Meanwhile, find something else to occupy your brain meat.When you do go back to whatever it is, you'll find that your mind is a little more clear, the initial problem is not so panic-attack-inducing, and the solution is obvious. Viola! The Universe is right on schedule!

What happens when you take a breath, a step back, a break from the project that is causing all of your childhood traumas to resurface? You discover that it's not so much about doing it right. It's about doing it at all.

I've discussed on here before my inability to ride a bike. I don't trust my feet when there's nothing steady and sturdy beneath them. I have no sense of balance. The slightest feeling of tipping over forces my brain to shift into survival mode. Why is that? No idea.

But.

I come from a long line of stubborn as hell people. I keep trying. Every year I make it a point to at least sit on a bike to try and get a feel for it. I've almost succeeded in pedaling several times! I even dared to take a motorcycle course. (My legs still hate me.) One day I will again. (And my legs will still hate me.)

You won't be able to write your novel in one draft. 
That doesn't mean you shouldn't write one at all.

You won't be able to photograph like Annie Leibowitz on your first roll.
That doesn't mean you should shy away from the shutter.

You won't be able to paint a piece worthy of the Met on your first canvas.
It doesn't mean you shouldn't dash down the colors anyway. 

You won't be able to drive like The Stig your first time behind the wheel. 
It doesn't mean you shouldn't get your license. 


So with all due respect to Mr. Lucas & Co. I hereby amend the quotation. "Do or Do Not. But you must always try."