The Radical Optimism of Trying Something New

I always knew Three Birch Hill would be a creative laboratory; it was never meant to be one static thing, but ever-evolving. That doesn’t stop me from feeling all the feelings when I try something new. Apprehension, anxiety, excitement. Hope. Just recently, I started working with a new textile printer. At first, it felt like a huge risk—like I was stepping back into uncharted territory. But with each misstep, each small victory, I am learning. It’s the same way I feel about life. It’s messy, but there’s no growth without it.

There’s a lot of energy today spent on focusing on one thing: re-creation, staying in the past. But I’m not interested in that. I’m interested in progress—personally, creatively, and politically. Progress requires courage, risk, growth, and sometimes failure. Progress requires a tremendous amount of both hope and creativity.

As we continue to navigate the uncertainties of both our personal and political landscapes, it’s important to remember that trying something new—whether in art or in action—is never wasted. Every step forward, no matter how small or imperfect, is a victory. We move forward, not because we know exactly what lies ahead, but because we have to. I’ll be taking some time over the coming days to think; about what my values really mean and how best to put them into motion in a greater way, for myself and my community.

Austin Channing Brown writes, “Hope for progress is a dangerous thing. 

But what is the alternative?”