If You Are Enjoying Yourself, You're Doing Well!

In the beginning of the month, three days after his 87th birthday, my father-in-law, Joshua “Jacky” Jackson passed away.

Jacky was an artist and graphic designer who was mostly known for his weekly drawings in one of the major newspapers in Israel, where people were asked to find a missing object. He published these drawings for over 60 years, and generations of children grew up enjoying them every Friday.

I’m telling you about Jacky because I learned a life-changing lesson from him. Years ago, when he visited us in the United States, we spent a long day in New York City. My daughter (his oldest grandchild) was 4 or 5 years old at the time. I always carried a drawing pad and some markers for her when we went out in case she got bored. Drawing was something she always enjoyed doing, and it kept her occupied and content. At some point during the afternoon, she wanted to draw and my father-in-law asked her if he could join her. She gave him a sheet from her pad and they both sat at the table and drew enthusiastically. Like my daughter, I love to draw. I studied art and design for over 10 years in reputable institutes. However, I do it with a serious attitude, constantly self-conscious about doing it well. As a result, I tend not to draw in public.

I looked at Jacky while he was drawing and was stunned to see the expression on his face. He was having fun like a kid in an amusement park. With a wide smile on his face, he drew my daughter’s portrait. He giggled as he asked my daughter to recommend colors for her dress (he was color blind). I was expecting him to draw the portrait in a serious way, trying to be as accurate and as professional as he could be. Instead, I saw playfulness, experimentation, and joy. He was simply doing what he loved most, and it showed.

What did I learn from this experience? That we don’t have to do things so seriously, even if we do them professionally. It is possible to have a 70-year career that brings you constant joy. It is also okay to experiment while doing it. The important thing is that it’s fun. Jacky’s joy was always very apparent in his drawings. And the people who looked for his missing objects were having fun too. He brought the inner- child in them to life, every single week for more than 60 years without fail.

And the same goes for Paula. You can’t fail when you practice. As long as you’re having fun and enjoying yourself, you’re doing well!