DIY or TIY.

 

Had read a post about a lady painting her bathroom tile to update a half bath in her house. She had stenciled upon the tile and then painted over it to make it look like a new tile. She had managed to get the effect and many compliments too. At that point, I thought it is like a connection with the entire surface area upon which we work on, that makes the difference in a good DIY and a blotched up DIY. Well, maybe in painting that's how it works. Nevertheless, she managed to bust an age-old perception of mine, the so-called necessity of being talented to do something, notwithstanding that, some measure of training always allows anybody to start off any enterprise. The recent spate of tutorials on the web, giving us the directions to  create anything along with the advice to refrain from the mistakes exclusive to that DIY catalyze the creative urges one may feel inclined towards. Yet, unwilling to let go of an idea so closely held, I got down to search for people who had become successful entrepreneurs, creating DIYs. There is one common thing about all these people, a desire to create something useful out of a useless/waste piece of material and a deeply rooted conviction and belief in their ability to be creative. These people regularly post something or the other and wish to share with others the simple pleasures of DIYs. To them its a means of deliverance (from the usual drudgery of everyday life), as well as a means of satisfying their creative urges. Money truly means the 'Means to an end' and not the 'end in itself' for them. It is a marvel that they can come up with so many ideas for improvements or improvisations to everyday objects around them. It left me wondering if these people did not wish to buy or invest in the products available in stores which are better finished and priced more? I did not conduct any survey but the thought of having a home full of DIYs did not appeal to me.That said I did start a DIY of creating an Ottoman of two tyres that had become useless and were to be given away.Inspired by the success stories of creating such Ottomans I started the project, got two wooden pieces fixed to close the mouths of the tyres, along with four legs, purchased, and attached to one piece of the wood, by a local carpenter.Then I made the mistake of buying a stouter rope the first time around.The second time with the timely intervention of my mom(who is good at crafts) I managed to buy the necessary rope and now the project is underway.That's when I noticed most of the DIY had been done by someone else and I had only paid for it!

This entire exercise has taught me a lesson.Training may impart a certain degree of ability to perform some job.In order to continue in it and outperform yourself one needs an inclination towards the job, suitable disposition, courage to take risks and self-motivation- the qualities which nurture talents and skills alike.And when an innate ability is nurtured by such qualities it translates into a genius ( which is the source of improvements and improvisations) over time.Skills can be perfected but require talent to give them an edge, when, competing with singular talents in bulk.

My Ottoman will be ready, in, another few days. But the DIY projects are a nurturing of the talent of a few people, has stuck with me now.I cannot say how much of a relief it is to think, that the tyre will, after all, be reused and recycled and not wasted, but, it will not be a DIY!At its best, I can call it a TIY.

        P.S: DIY-Do it Yourself.

               TIY-Try it Yourself.