Jewelry Workshop
Why Did We Stop Taking Classes?
🎬 Sometimes the story keeps writing itself even after it ends – A behind-the-scenes moment is waiting at the end of this post, for The Secret Journey members only.
📍Hoi An, Vietnam
Right after the coffee-making workshop, I headed to the river area to participate in a jewelry-making workshop. This was something I'd never tried before, and that's exactly what attracted me. How is it that as adults we stop trying new things?
I arrived early with a clear vision - I wanted to create a beautiful necklace or bracelet. But the instructor gently explained that what I was asking for is made by machine, and here we make something by hand, something simpler.
Not like the bamboo workshop where I managed to create my vision. This time I decided to make a simple silver ring, inspired by a leaf ring I have - one where you can adjust the size.
The process was harder than expected. Real physical work - flattening metal, heating, filing, cutting. Each step required patience I didn't have that day, and waiting between each instruction.
Maybe it was related to the fact that I didn't really want to create this ring, I wanted something completely different. It's not very pleasant for me to invest money and energy in something I'm not at peace with - that's not me.
Maybe I lost patience quickly because I'd also had another workshop that same day. Right when they gave me the ring after it came out of the cool machine that makes it sparkle, I paid, thanked everyone, and said goodbye.
Apparently jewelry making is less for me, and that's excellent.
I know most of you aren’t packing your bags for Vietnam right now, but if you’d like some inspiration for “Adults classes”, you might find it here:
Leather crafting workshop, wood carving workshop, embroidery workshop, knife making workshop, pottery workshop, painting workshop, traditional hat making workshop, perfume blending workshop, cocktail mixing workshop, traditional lantern making workshop (the most popular one!), and even a buffalo riding workshop.
I felt like I was experimenting with things I'd never tried before, and it feels a bit like when I was young and went to all kinds of classes - to check what I love, to find what I'm good at.
How is it that when we're adults we stop doing this? We're no longer children, don't go to classes, and maybe we're missing something we didn't know we even love. Or worse - missing something we could have discovered we don't love, and save ourselves precious time.
There's something liberating about discovering that something isn't for you. It saves doubts, time, and unnecessary energy. Just like kids try piano, ballet, basketball and drawing until they find what suits them.
I feel like I'm developing this part of my brain that tries new things - things I hadn't known before. It affects me positively, I think new thoughts, create new connections in my brain.
It's not like arriving at a new place every month. Arriving at a new place is renewal, but the pattern is similar - I look for the same things everywhere: apartment or hotel, SIM card, getting to know the neighborhood, working on laptop in coffee shops. True, each city has different things to offer, but the pattern is similar.
Here, getting to know something completely new that I'd never done, with no idea how the process looks or what the steps are, I find myself reaching a deeper layer of renewal. Of real learning about myself.
Maybe it's time to go back to classes. Not children's classes, but adult classes for people who understand that life is too short not to try new things.
This video was captured with my Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses – my favorite way to share the world through my eyes and take you along for the ride.
If you're curious about them, here's the exact model I use.
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Thank you for being part of this journey.