Befriending Details

I have a detail-oriented mind. On my good days, that means I’m able to juggle lots of simultaneous projects and not lose track of where I need to be when. On a bad day, it means I’m obsessing about the smallest thing and unable to see past that one giant tree that has gone and taken over my forest. So what do I do? For the most part, I’ve learned to make friends with the details. After all, not paying attention to details can derail a project. Yes, they drive us (me, especially!) crazy sometimes. But successful creating is a delicate balance between those big, huge, wonderful ideas that can soar through our minds and the intricate, bewildering, extremely-down-to-earth little bits of things that can make or break a successful creative work. So try to treat them gently. Think of a feather, this lovely, lighter-than-air utensil that joins forces with hundreds of other feathers, creating a powerhouse that lifts birds into the air. One feather -- one detail. A wing full of feathers? Success!