"The expert in anything was once a beginner"

You can’t master a new skill without first making a mess.

Last weekend, I went to a beginner’s pottery class. I’d never thrown a pot on the wheel before—and it showed.

It was messy.
The clay flew off-centre more than once.
We had to start again. And again.
Nothing looked quite like the perfect Pinterest examples on the shelf.

But our teacher was calm, supportive and kind.
She reminded us that this was the point: we were learning. It was meant to be messy.

We all struggled at times we just had a short break, reset—and came back with fresh hands and a clear head. That made all the difference.

By the end of the class, every one of us had a pot to be fired. Not perfect, not symmetrical—but ours. And each of us had learned something valuable just by trying.

It reminded me so much of dentistry.

When you’re starting out—whether it’s your first crown prep, first CEREC, first patient consult—you will feel clumsy. Things will go off-centre. You’ll have to reset.

That’s normal.

Learning any new skill takes time, patience, and a willingness to embrace failure.
Perfection doesn’t come first. Practice does.

So this week, if you find yourself struggling with a new technique, a tricky procedure, or just a tough day—take a breath. Reset. And keep going.

You’re learning. And that’s more than enough.

What would it look like to treat yourself with patience instead of pressure?

Have a great week

Rosie