Living Life: The Importance of Being a Beginner
The IMportance of Being a Beginner
A few weeks ago, I was having dinner with friends when one of them shared something that stuck with me: she had made a commitment to try one new thing each month this year.
Her goal struck me as admirable. Something was inspiring about how she had structured space for discovery in her life. As she began listing the experiences she had undertaken in January, February, March, and April, I found myself applauding her dedication.
But even as I celebrated her efforts, I felt a realization surface: I’ve been living life a bit differently…
Letting Change Take the Lead
Maybe it's because I’m an artist, and newness and experimentation are regular elements of my artistic work. Maybe it’s because I’m a mother, and the demands of parenting kids are steeped in the ever-changing nature of human growth and development. Maybe it’s because I needed to reimagine my life in my early 40s and make a new start. Maybe it’s because I returned to school to pursue a master’s degree and a new career. Maybe it’s just a part of who I am as a person, always curious about new experiences.
Or maybe it’s just life.
Whatever the reason, I am constantly in growth mode. I am regularly challenged and stretched, and I recognize and (usually) embrace that the one constant in life is change. Often, that change presents an opportunity for growth and for expanding my concept of myself.
For me, the unfamiliar often shows up unannounced. And I’ve learned to greet it with curiosity.
Why Being a Beginner Matters
I’ve come to believe that personal expansion—stretching into what we don’t yet know—is one of the most meaningful experiences we can have.
Because trying something new isn’t just about learning a skill. It’s about learning to be a beginner.
It’s about choosing to start from where we are, knowing we’ll fumble, be unsure, and get frustrated, but choosing to begin anyway. In doing so, we practice the kinds of things that don’t often get the spotlight: humility, resilience, patience, curiosity, and the courage to keep going even when we feel clumsy or exposed.
These aren’t just qualities that help us grow—they’re qualities that help us live.
The Invitation of Something New
Last weekend, I caught my first fish.
Fishing had never really crossed my mind before—not as a hobby, not as an adventure, not even as a passing interest. But then I met someone whose love for fly fishing—and the stories they told about the wild, quiet places it led them to—stirred something in me.
But, it wasn’t just their passion that drew me in; it was my own quiet readiness to try something unfamiliar that fueled my “yes” to something new.
The Practice of Not Knowing
Over the weekend, I spent hours listening and practicing. I tried to learn the basics of casting. For an experienced angler, these were extremely elementary skills. For me, it felt like learning choreography to music I’d never conceived of before.
I retained only fragments of what I was told. My movements were stiff and unsure. I was, in every sense, a beginner—wanting to get it perfectly the first time, amazing my teacher with miraculous innate skill, but there was no hiding my novice.
And yet, in the process, I was amazed to glimpse a new world I had previously seen but had no frame of reference to appreciate. I learned about water, how it flows differently across terrain and changes throughout the day. I discovered the intricacies of fish scales and what they reveal about the fish. I explored fish behavior and how they prefer certain pockets within the river. But more than all the facts and instruction, I realized that fishing is far more than catching—it’s about presence, patience, and an almost meditative attunement to the natural world.
I began to see how the act of fishing could become a reason to explore, a way to listen deeply, a practice in its own right.
The Path Ahead
Will I become a skilled fisherman? I have no idea. And honestly, for me, that’s not the point right now.
What matters is that I began. I said yes. I was willing to not know, get it wrong, make mistakes, and be taught. If we can approach everyday life with this same willingness, then we have a greater capacity for not only growth and expansion but also joy, curiosity, and wonder.
And I’m even more curious now—curious to see what else this one small beginning might lead me to discover. What other new things lie just beyond the edges of what I already know? Because in the end, it’s not the “new thing” itself that matters most. It’s the journey it invites, and who we become along the way.
Imagine a life where trying something new wasn’t rare—but routine.
(Image: Original study by Katie Hathor-Jones)
Welcome! I’m glad you’re here.
In my private therapy practice, I meet you exactly where you are—with compassion, curiosity, and an open mind. Together, we explore patterns, uncover new perspectives, and practice tools that support clearer communication, self-advocacy, authentic connection, and the pursuit of a life rooted in meaning, purpose, and vitality.
In addition to my clinical work, I’m also a professional artist, continually following my creativity into new forms of emotional and psychological exploration. Each discipline enriches the other, both grounded in a deep commitment to growth and expression.
Contact me to set up a free 30-minute intro call.
Email: katie@katiehathorjones.com
Website: www.katiehathorjones.com
