You have to look back to see how far you have come.
Like one of those sped-up films of a plant growing over time.
One of the greatest joys in life is (whenever you have the luxury of 5 minutes to do it) looking back at a time when you were uncertain about the thing you barely give a second thought to now.
Actually, one of the greatest joys in life is when you think the Quality Street box is annoyingly filled with wrappers and then you pull out a Toffee Penny. That is a joyous moment. (Enough to get over the annoyance of someone putting sweet wrappers back in the box.)
For example…
Last week I was tutoring the first lesson of a 10-week course about podcasting. One of the students was asking about editing and how the layout of the programme was overwhelming.
In that moment I was taken back to the first time I used editing software. In a silent radio studio. Two men in the on-air studio next door. Probably minding their own business and definitely not paying attention to what I was doing.
Or what I couldn’t do.
Because, sitting on the blue office chair, rolling back and forth on the faded red lino, computer mouse brushing across the grey radio desk, my eyes were staring at the computer screen filled with little arrows, markers, numbers, lined horizontal columns (tracks), and a world of audio possibilities; yet a non-existent knowledge.
As the student explained her anxieties about not knowing where to begin - literally, actually not knowing where to begin - I smiled what I hoped came across as a reassuring smile.
Because I know by the end of the 10 weeks, she’ll know how to edit.
I asked if she drives. She said she does. I reminded her there was a time she didn’t know how to.
I know, right. Dropping all the wisdom sauce here, aren’t I?
Tonight on the Notts Today TV show I had a guest who was making her 3rd appearance.
I remember her first time. She was so nervous.
The first time on a live TV show is bound to make anyone nervous.
As always, if you’re invited to be a guest on a show, there are 2 things to remember:
You have been invited because the presenter and producer is interested in you and your story.
You already know the answers.
Today my guest came on for her 3rd appearance.
She was relaxed and chatty. A brilliant guest.
I hope she takes 5 minutes to look back on that first time, and how far she has come.
Just as I will encourage the student to do when she is editing her own podcast series.
Just as I do every time I get to the end of the Quality Street box and am about to pop the Toffee Penny into my mouth.
(Having put all the wrappers in the bin first, of course.)