I don’t often back out of running a race due to lack of grit, but after a late-night D&D session, followed by waking up at 4:30 and failing to link up with my carpool, I opted to drive home instead of driving the final hour and a half to get to the race. Crashing back into bed at 7, I slept another 3 hours and woke up feeling refreshed. I was planning on registering at the event, but even if I had registered I don’t think I would have felt bad skipping out. A 6.6 mountain race that I didn’t feel prepared for, I’m honestly just proud that I got out of bed and was initially planning to run it. This isn’t the first time I’ve changed my mind about running a race I was excited about and I don’t think it will be my last. Then again, isn’t that the point of day of registration? I’m allowed to make a last-minute decision on whether or not I want to race.

The same can be said about knitting. You can spend a lot of time and energy choosing yarn colors that go well with each other and then finding a pattern that complements the yarn that you’ve chosen (or the other way around), only to find when everything is put together that it’s not right. Maybe the colors blend together more than you thought they would, making the pattern not worth it because you can’t see colorwork. Maybe the pattern you’ve chosen as a lot of texture that is hidden behind a skein of vibrant variegated color. Maybe the yarn is itchy and you don’t want it against your neck. Maybe you cast on the wrong size or you don’t like the gauge – I could probably list reasons that I have started to second guess my yarn/project choice for a while.

But when all is said and done, you are not committed to the choices you have made. You can purchase different yarn or chose a different pattern. You can make modifications to the project. The only thing you need to be able to stomach is ripping your work, hopefully only a couple inches. While this can add an element of frustration, if you’re going to spend the time to make a project and then more time using it, it should embody what you envisioned.

For this reason, I grudgingly pulled 2 inches of brioche out and cast on a simple scarf. Intending on knitting one color until I ran out and finishing with the second color after seeing a similar scarf knit by MurphyLu (pictured). Over halfway done with my own scarf, I love the sharp contrast between the deep blue and turquoise. Though I’m not sure who the scarf’s intended owner is, I’m confident that the recipient will appreciate the color blocking instead of stripes. It’s also safe to say that I’m significantly happier with how the project is knitting up this time around. To think all I had to do was rip out 2 inches of brioche.

The same can be said in regards to changing your mind in other aspects of life. Want to try out a new haircut? Go for it, if you don’t like your hair it will always grow back. Want to try a new hobby? Go for it, you can always decide you don’t like it. Think you’re going to make smoothies for breakfast every morning and then find out they leave you hungry all day long? It’s ok to think you’re going to like something and then later change your mind. It’s ok to try something again later and realize that you like it.