Project: Dabble

Project: Dabble turns one with a look back at my favorite learning projects and what they taught me about curiosity, personal growth and the joy of being a beginner.

Last June, I started Project: Dabble with the idea of creating a space that celebrates lifelong learning.

Working in public education, I am surrounded by young people who are actively engaged in learning. Every day, I get to witness their “aha” moments and personal growth. Project: Dabble grew from a desire to help adults reconnect with that same curiosity, wonder and joy.

The plan was to take on different learning projects and share what I discovered. Some would be practical. Some would be creative. Some would stretch me. Some would simply be fun. But underneath all of it was a bigger question: What happens when we give ourselves permission to be beginners again?

As we move through adult life, many of us become more reluctant to pick up new topics or skills, especially when they are not directly connected to our careers or daily responsibilities. Time is limited. Priorities compete. Then there is the pressure of perfectionism. We start to believe that if we are not going to become great at something, maybe it is not worth doing at all.

A Different Approach to Learning

Project: Dabble is my way of offering a different approach to learning, one that I hope feels more joyful and fulfilling. Learning something new does not have to require a major life overhaul or perfection. It can begin with a small project, a question you want to explore or a skill you are curious about trying. Those smaller efforts at learning can enrich your life in ways you may not expect.

Learning something new often creates a ripple effect in other areas of your life. You connect new knowledge to what you already know. As your background knowledge grows, you have more connections to draw from the next time you learn something new. In other words, the more you learn, the better you become at learning. Over time, lifelong learning broadens your horizons and helps you understand more about who you are and who you are capable of becoming.

Over the past year, my learning projects have taken me into science, art, nature, fitness and food. I have asked questions, tested ideas and made mistakes. Above all, I have found joy and satisfaction in challenging myself in new ways. As Project: Dabble turns 1, I’ve been reflecting on what these projects have taught me about learning, curiosity and a well-lived life.

Here are reflections from some of my favorite learning projects.

Running a 5K and Learning to Keep Going

My teenage son and I ran our first 5K race this past Mother’s Day. When we signed up, my plan was to walk while he ran. But as I stood at the starting line, surrounded by people of all ages and abilities, I felt inspired to try running the course. Not to win. Not to prove anything. Just to see what I could do.

Running with a crowd, surrounded by so many people moving together, felt energizing. I felt like I was part of something bigger than myself. Instead of thinking about how much I usually dislike running, I focused on how strong I felt in that moment. As I reached the final stretch, I saw my son cheering me on as I ran across the finish line. I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect Mother’s Day gift. 

After the race, my son gave me a piece of advice that has stayed with me: The key is to keep running, even if all you can do is shuffle at a snail’s pace. Once you stop or start walking, it is much harder to begin again.

That is true for learning, too. Some days, all you can manage is a few flashcards, a few pages or 10 minutes of practice. But every small effort moves you closer to realizing your full potential.

Read More: What I Learned Running My First 5K Race

Finding My Inner Artist with Zentangle

When I started learning Zentangle, I was excited to discover a new way to express myself creatively. Zentangle is a meditative drawing method that uses geometric and organic patterns to create small pieces of abstract art. No artistic skill or expensive materials are required. The patterns are created from simple lines, dots, curves and shapes, and a single tile can be completed in as little as 15 minutes.

Each tile is a finished work on its own, but when combined with others it forms an intricate mosaic. Step back and you can see how your individual choices, strokes and explorations become part of a larger whole. 

Lifelong learning works the same way. Every book you read, skill you practice, question you explore or project you complete has value on its own. Each experience opens a new door to personal growth. Over time, those pieces come together to form a rich mosaic of knowledge and wisdom.

Read More: Exploring Meditative Art with Zentangle

30-Day Photography Challenge

For another Project: Dabble experiment, I spent 30 days improving my digital photography skills by working through a series of self-paced exercises and learning the settings on my DSLR.

The schedule was demanding. I spent about 10 to 12 hours a week on the project on top of my career and family responsibilities. But what surprised me most was how motivating the 30-day structure became. Many learning goals stretch across longer timelines, such as a 12-week course, while others have no clear endpoint at all. With skills such as writing, photography or public speaking, there is always more to learn. Without a deadline and clear learning objectives, it can be easy to get sidetracked, lose momentum or feel discouraged.

Compressing my learning goals into a 30-day challenge made the project feel doable. It was long enough to make meaningful progress, but short enough that I could see the finish line. Acquiring new skills does not always have to involve a long-term commitment. A short, focused burst of learning is often enough to turn curiosity into action. 

Read More: My 30-Day Digital Photography Challenge

Fossil Hunting and the Joy of Learning Together

One of my favorite Project: Dabble adventures was taking my kids fossil hunting at Trammel Fossil Park in Cincinnati. I was excited to search for fossils from Ohio’s ancient past, when the region was covered by a shallow tropical sea teeming with marine life. My kids, however, were less convinced. Fossil hunting had some tough competition from the possibility of spending the day at their favorite amusement park instead.

But once we started uncovering our first few fossil fragments on the rocky hillside, their interest grew. We spent a fun-filled day using the colorful interpretive signs near the picnic area to identify the coral and seashell-like patterns of crinoids, brachiopods and other ancient life. “This is actually fun!” my daughter said.

Curiosity can be contagious. When our children see us asking questions, trying something new and getting excited about discovery, we model a love of learning. And that is the real treasure.

Read More: Fossil Hunting in Ohio

Exploring Everyday Chemistry

For years, chemistry was the subject I thought had defeated me. I had been excited to take Honors Chemistry in high school, but once the class started, that excitement quickly turned into confusion. I barely passed the class and carried the story with me for years: I am not a science person.

Through Project: Dabble, I decided to revisit chemistry with a different purpose. Instead of mastering every formula or passing a high-stakes exam, I wanted to strengthen my science literacy. I wanted to better understand how chemistry shows up in everyday life, from food and the products we buy to understanding public policy debates about energy and the environment. 

This time, I approached the subject differently. I used engaging resources tailored to my goals, set specific learning objectives and connected the concepts to my daily experiences. Chemistry did not suddenly become easy, but struggle no longer felt like proof that I could not learn it. It became part of the learning process.

This project showed me that with the right purpose, strategies and willingness to try again, we can write a new story about ourselves as capable and confident learners.

Read More: How to Relearn a Subject That Once Defeated You

Looking Ahead

As Project: Dabble turns 1, I look forward to another year of learning, discovery and new beginnings.

I will continue taking on my own learning projects, but I also plan to start sharing stories from other dabblers, tinkerers and makers who are following their own paths of curiosity and discovery. This summer, I also am excited to launch a podcast, which will allow me to explore an entirely new way of storytelling. More details to come!

Thank you for being part of this journey with me. I would love to hear about your own adventures in lifelong learning, whether you are revisiting an old interest, trying something new or simply following a curiosity wherever it leads. Happy dabbling!