I've always been rubbish at sports, and it's not like I was exactly enthusiastic about participating in physical education classes at school. My mother would often excuse me from these classes, citing my "bad foot" as the reason. Even after taking up regular exercise in my mid-twenties, I never felt confident enough to join a local recreational team.
However, everything changed when a friend invited me to her birthday kickabout last year. Now, I'm not one for sports – but I showed up at the park, determined to keep as far away from the ball as possible. To my surprise, I actually ended up enjoying myself. We didn't have any expert players on our team, and yet, we still managed to have a great time.
Over the past year, our little kickabout group has grown, with around 40 of us turning up every other Sunday at a proper pitch to play. And while I'm undoubtedly one of the worst players on the team – always instinctively fending off the ball with my hands, no matter how badly positioned I am – I've noticed that I'm actually slightly better than I was last year.
But why does it feel so good to be bad at something? According to author and activist Karen Walrond, "amateurish" hasn't always been a negative term. In her new book, In Defense of Dabbling, she explains that the Latin word for "amateur," which means "one who loves," is actually a more positive concept than we often give it credit for.
Walrond argues that embracing intentional amateurism – finding activities you're drawn to, but not necessarily naturally good at, and sticking with them anyway – can be incredibly beneficial. By doing so, we allow ourselves the freedom to indulge in our passions without expectation of becoming experts or perfectionists.
For example, Walrond herself started out trying all sorts of new activities, from swimming to playing piano, until she finally found something that truly captured her soul: pottery. She discovered that at the wheel, she could shut out the world and be present in the moment, allowing her to indulge her instincts and play. This ancient craft also offers opportunities for connection with others who share her interests.
Walrond's book highlights seven key attributes of intentional amateurism – mindfulness, curiosity, self-compassion, play, challenge, connection, and wonder or awe. By focusing on these qualities, we can let go of perfectionism and appreciate the experience for what it is: a chance to enjoy ourselves and grow as individuals.
I think that's exactly what I've discovered in my own kickabout journey. Rather than trying to improve my skills and become a better player, I'm embracing the fact that I'll never be good enough. It's liberating to challenge myself without expectation of perfection – and it's allowed me to grow and try new things.
As Karen Walrond so eloquently puts it, "There's something to just stretching yourself a little bit: 'Let's see what I can do … What else can I learn, what else am I capable of?'".
However, everything changed when a friend invited me to her birthday kickabout last year. Now, I'm not one for sports – but I showed up at the park, determined to keep as far away from the ball as possible. To my surprise, I actually ended up enjoying myself. We didn't have any expert players on our team, and yet, we still managed to have a great time.
Over the past year, our little kickabout group has grown, with around 40 of us turning up every other Sunday at a proper pitch to play. And while I'm undoubtedly one of the worst players on the team – always instinctively fending off the ball with my hands, no matter how badly positioned I am – I've noticed that I'm actually slightly better than I was last year.
But why does it feel so good to be bad at something? According to author and activist Karen Walrond, "amateurish" hasn't always been a negative term. In her new book, In Defense of Dabbling, she explains that the Latin word for "amateur," which means "one who loves," is actually a more positive concept than we often give it credit for.
Walrond argues that embracing intentional amateurism – finding activities you're drawn to, but not necessarily naturally good at, and sticking with them anyway – can be incredibly beneficial. By doing so, we allow ourselves the freedom to indulge in our passions without expectation of becoming experts or perfectionists.
For example, Walrond herself started out trying all sorts of new activities, from swimming to playing piano, until she finally found something that truly captured her soul: pottery. She discovered that at the wheel, she could shut out the world and be present in the moment, allowing her to indulge her instincts and play. This ancient craft also offers opportunities for connection with others who share her interests.
Walrond's book highlights seven key attributes of intentional amateurism – mindfulness, curiosity, self-compassion, play, challenge, connection, and wonder or awe. By focusing on these qualities, we can let go of perfectionism and appreciate the experience for what it is: a chance to enjoy ourselves and grow as individuals.
I think that's exactly what I've discovered in my own kickabout journey. Rather than trying to improve my skills and become a better player, I'm embracing the fact that I'll never be good enough. It's liberating to challenge myself without expectation of perfection – and it's allowed me to grow and try new things.
As Karen Walrond so eloquently puts it, "There's something to just stretching yourself a little bit: 'Let's see what I can do … What else can I learn, what else am I capable of?'".
. You got these two camps - the "I need to be perfect" crew and the "I just wanna have fun" squad 
. And then you got people like Karen Walrond who's like, "Hey, let's focus on the journey, not just the destination." I mean, think about it, we're living in a time where everyone's trying to be influencers, with their perfect Instagram posts and their 100k followers 
. But what if that's all just a facade? What if the real winners are the people who are just showing up, being okay with not being okay, and having fun while doing it?
. But maybe we should be looking at them in a different light. Instead of seeing failure as something to be ashamed of, let's see it as an opportunity to learn and grow 
. And that's exactly what this "intentional amateurism" movement is all about - embracing the imperfections and finding joy in the process 
.
? I mean, that's what makes life worth living, right? The thrill of the unknown, the rush of adrenaline when you're pushing yourself outside your comfort zone... 
. So yeah, let's give this "intentional amateurism" thing a try. Who knows, we might just find ourselves having more fun than we ever thought possible 
!
. our society is always pushing us to be perfect and achieve greatness, but thats not always realistic or healthy. embracing your "badness" at something can actually lead to some amazing experiences and personal growth 
. its all about finding joy in the journey and not being too hard on yourself 
. i love how you're focusing on having fun and trying new things – that's what life is all about 
!
Like, in school, we're always striving to be better, do better grades, and get into the right college. But what if we just focused on enjoying the journey instead? I mean, think about it - even with sports, it's not about being perfect; it's about showing up, giving it a go, and having fun with your friends. 
Keep being bad at kickabout, and I'm sure you'll keep having a blast! 
trying new things is the best way to discover hidden talents 
pottery sounds like an amazing hobby btw 
intentionally being bad at something can be super liberating 
it's all about embracing imperfection and having fun 
rather than striving for perfection, we should focus on growth and connection 
walrond's book is giving me so many new ideas to try 
gotta love this 
You're just there to get praised and have fun... until the teacher asks you to run faster or do more sit-ups.
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. Now, I see where you're coming from – embracing your amateurishness and having fun with it? That's like a breath of fresh air 
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. It sounds like u found somethin that makes u happy & brings u joy 
. Embracin amateurism is all about embracin the journey not just the destination 
. It's about findin what u love doin & takin pleasure in it 
For me, it's all about finding something you enjoy and having fun with it, even if you're not the best at it.
) or David Beckham on the soccer pitch (yes, even with his dodgy foot 
. I've always been someone who loves trying new things, but gets nervous about not being good at them. This book is like a breath of fresh air! 
It's all about embracing our curiosity and playfulness, rather than stressing about perfection. I love how she talks about finding activities that make us feel present in the moment – like when you're fully focused on pottery, no distractions allowed 
.