The human brain is an amazing and confounding instrument, isn’t it? When I started spinning, I read everything I could get my hands on that dealt with this craft. I perused and then pored over text after tome after magazine.
Some of it sank in, but much seemed beyond my understanding, presented in a way that didn’t fit precisely into my brain. It’s one of the reasons I started PLY magazine, because what I wanted wasn’t out there yet. My brain style — nimble at times, lumbering at others — wasn’t well represented. I wanted spinning laid out before me like a magnificent feast of hows, whys, and what-ifs. I wanted a clear map from start to finish but one that was smart and open-minded with lots of scenic routes and off-road adventures. I wanted Jillian — I just didn’t know it yet.
Spinning, with its endless options and differing opinions, can be overwhelming. This is not news to you, I bet. Sometimes it can feel like you have to know everything, to get each thing exactly right, or you might as well give up and go commercial. I felt this many times as I tried to find a way to force all the spinning facts into my strange-shaped brain. Jillian’s house-building metaphor slides perfectly into my brain, like a key in a lock. It was made for a mind like mine, where the tumblers sometimes jam and require clear and precise instructions or a swift kick. There are a million different ways to build a house, but they all have the same basic elements, and what you choose to spotlight is up to you. Your house might have the brightest front door on the block (look at that colorway), her house might have the sturdiest foundation (great-grandchildren will inherit it), his house sure has nice windows (no cold getting in there); they’re all different and they all bring their inhabitants joy, but you can bet the builder learned from each one.
You are an adventurer, a traveler, a builder. Go explore and build. Learn as you go, pay attention, make alterations, grow and change, and embrace the journey. You don’t have to know it all right now. You just have to have a good map, nimble fingers, and an open mind. You’re holding one of the best maps I’ve seen, so stretch out your fingers and mind and get started!