DIY for all

When was the last time you did something for yourself? I’m not talking about cooking dinner or doing laundry. This post is about things you may not normally choose to do yourself, instead hiring someone else to do them.

For example, sewing a couch cushion, growing a food garden, painting walls, or unclogging a toilet -- have you ever done these things yourself? More often than not, the answer would be No. Don’t worry; it’s not a test, just an observation of our changing society. The spirit of do-it-yourself (a.k.a. DIY) waned drastically in the 1980s and 90s. The arrival of the 21st Century has seen a great shift in crafty, hands-on activities.

The idea of self-sufficiency is a bit nostalgic. Our modern world has larger salaries and smaller time frames, nearly forcing us to pay other people to improve our lives for us. For centuries, humans were a bit jack-of-all-trades. They could grow food, build homes, sew clothing, raise children, and more.

Though very few of us long for the days of dinosaurs or Little House on the Prairie, adding more DIY-ing into our lives can have a myriad of benefits. First, we can learn to appreciate the basics: food, water, shelter, clothing, education, and transportation. The world seems so much more immense than we are, with our needs being met by misunderstood forces. Secondly, we can appreciate and take advantage of what we already have, giving it new life or simply making it functional again. Third, your mind and your body can get in on the action, creating tangible progress we can be proud of.

Fourth, do-it-yourself is, ironically, a great way to connect with other people, many of which love to share their knowledge and experience. Fifth, you can learn new skills and hone in on talents you didn’t know you had. Sixth, you can easily lighten your footprint on the environment as you reduce, reuse, and recreate. Last but not least, you can save money!

I can hear it already: “I’m not handy.” You only think you aren’t handy. Some folks are better with wood, others with plants, others with fabrics, and so on. Find what you are most comfortable with and start there. Don’t fear stepping outside of your comfort zone and, with adequate instructions and safety, you can fix or create anything. Start small and don’t look back.

One successful project after another, you’ll find that doing-it-yourself is as much about saving money as it is about getting active, being creative, growing bonds, engaging community, and ensure the environment’s recovery.

A few websites to get your DIY blood flowing:

• DIY Network
• Do It Yourself
• Craft
• Make
• ReadyMade
• Instructables
• Martha Stewart

You Tell Us!

• How (or when) do you DIY?
• What projects do you fear DIY-ing?