The Beauty of Unfinished Work in Life and Writing

I’ve always considered myself somewhat of a perfectionist—or at least I used to be.  I would start every project with excitement and big plans, but the moment I would notice the slightest imperfection, I would feel frustrated, discouraged, and even ashamed of myself.  But over the years, I’ve realized that not everything needs to be finished.  Not everything needs to be perfect.  In fact, some of the most beautiful work comes from leaving things unfinished.  

I’ve got piles of notebooks on my shelf filled with half-written thoughts, stories, recipes, and ideas jotted down that I never fully explored.  For a long time, looking at them made me feel a strong sense of guilt.  Questions running through my mind like, “Why didn’t I just finish this?” or “Why didn’t I follow through with it?” 

But now, I see these unfinished projects differently.  They aren’t the failures I thought they were.  They are proof of my curiosity, creativity, and experimentation.  They show that I tried, that I explored, and that I allowed myself to start something new, even if it wasn’t completed. 

There’s a sense of freedom in leaving things unfinished.  When a project isn’t tied down by deadlines, expectations, or the pressure to “complete” it, it can evolve naturally.  Inspiration comes and goes, but sometimes leaving something incomplete allows it to grow in ways we never anticipated.  Some projects we come back to years later with fresh insight. That’s why I always enjoy going back and looking through my old notebooks.  You never know what you’re going to find to spark that inspiration for completion.  

I’ve noticed this especially in my creative work.  Writing a draft that never sees the light of day.  I remember hanging out with a friend who is a super talented writer.  He has so many wonderful and creative ideas, but like me, he has trouble finishing what he started.  But we were at the park and decided to use a prompt to write a story.  It was a horror theme (his favorite genre).  

The prompt started with “one day a little girl noticed something frightening under her bed…” I was getting really into it, but I stopped and never went back to it.  It had the potential to be a great short story, but it’s there still waiting to be finished (same goes for my friend). But it is really fun to get together with other writers and collaborate on ideas, especially if you’re stuck in writer’s block.  

Life itself is full of unfinished chapters.  Such as friendships that evolve, relationships that shift, and personal goals that change along the way. I’ve learned that by accepting the things we don’t finish, allows us to embrace the journey, the lessons, and the growth that comes along the way.