The Mid Life Dating Files 2025

Describe the most ambitious DIY project you’ve ever taken on.

Impatience Is My Superpower… I Don’t Wait.

Let me tell y’all something about me.

If I see something that needs to be done, I don’t:

Schedule it. Research it for six months. Or say, “We’ll get to that eventually.”

No ma’am.

If it’s in my head, it’s happening.

I am a firm believer in:

“If you want it done right and you want it done now, you might as well tie your hair up and do it yourself.”

And of all the ambitious DIY projects I’ve taken on (and Lord knows there have been plenty), the one that truly tested my grit, my muscles, and my sanity?

Chalk painting furniture.

The Beginning: Boldness Over Skill

The first time I picked up that paintbrush, I had more determination than direction.

Did I fully understand technique?

No.

Did that stop me?

Also no.

I stared at an outdated dresser and thought,

“Well… it can’t get much worse.”

That’s what I call confidence with a side of delusion.

But I painted anyway.

And then I painted again.

And then I painted everything that stood still long enough.

The Side Quests: Because Why Stop There?

Now let’s be clear — chalk painting was just the gateway.

Once I realized I could transform furniture, I unlocked a dangerous level of creativity.

I taught myself how to:

Cover chair seats. Recover headboards. Recover entire pieces of furniture. And yes… turn an old fireplace mantle into a headboard (with the opening covered, because we are not sleeping in a chimney).

Did I know what I was doing?

Not really.

Did I measure everything perfectly?

Define “perfectly.”

Did I watch a video and then immediately think, “I’ve got this”?

Absolutely.

There is something wildly empowering about standing in your living room holding fabric, a staple gun, and pure confidence.

Recovering headboards without knowing what I’m doing (as usual)… but doing it anyway… might be my actual superpower.

Because here’s my philosophy:

You can either wait on someone else…

Or you can learn.

And I choose learn.

Every time.

The Physical Toll (No One Talks About This)

Nobody tells you DIY stands for:

“Definitely Injuring Yourself.”

My fingers cramped.

My hands were sore.

My arms shook.

My back filed a formal complaint.

Even my backside hurt from sitting in weird angles saying,

“Just one more section.”

And I would literally say out loud,

“I am not quitting on this piece of furniture.”

As if it could hear me.

Because I don’t quit halfway. If I start it, we’re finishing it. Period.

The Moment It Clicked

Then one day, after multiple pieces, multiple mistakes, and multiple muscle aches…

I stepped back.

Tilted my head.

Squinted.

And said,

“Well I’ll be… that’s actually beautiful.”

Outdated furniture became statement pieces.

Old, forgotten things became conversation starters.

Fireplace mantles became headboards.

Basic chairs became custom.

And suddenly I went from “just trying something” to

“Okay… I might actually be good at this.”

Which was bold.

But accurate.

When Everyone Starts Asking

Then it happened.

“Can you do mine?”

“Could you look at this piece?”

“Would you recover this for me?”

And I’m over here like,

“Hi. Yes. But also… my body needs a sabbatical.”

There was a season where if it wasn’t nailed down, it was getting painted, covered, recovered, or redesigned.

I had to actively stop myself from walking through my house looking for the next victim.

The Real Lesson

Here’s what I’ve learned from all of it:

You don’t have to know everything before you start.

You just have to start.

You’ll mess up.

You’ll redo things.

You’ll learn the hard way.

You’ll get better.

And before you know it, you’ll be the one other people are calling for help.

Impatience is my superpower.

I don’t wait.

I decide.

I pray about it.

I figure it out.

And I do it anyway.

And if my fingers, arms, back, and pride are sore afterward?

That just means something beautiful happened.🫟🔨🪮🪑✂️