Following through and finishing what you start is more than just a task—it’s a promise you make to yourself. Every time you carry something through to completion, you’re proving that your ideas, efforts, and time are worth something. It builds confidence and creates a sense of internal integrity, showing you that you can trust yourself to follow through. That self-trust is powerful. It becomes the cornerstone for bigger ambitions, more daring goals, and deeper faith in your capacity to grow.
Unfinished work often carries an invisible weight. Loose ends can clutter your mind and sap your energy, leaving you restless or unsatisfied even if you’re not sure why. Completing a project clears space—not just literally, but mentally and emotionally too. It brings closure, a sense of order, and the pride of knowing that you saw something through, even if it was difficult. That sense of accomplishment doesn’t just feel good in the moment—it becomes fuel for the next challenge, the next dream, the next step.
I purchased the pattern for Claude the Octopus from Patchwork Moose on Etsy. I loved the picture of her octopus and I immediately purchased similar colored yarn to complete one for myself. The outcome of the pattern is amazing, but it has taken me five years from start to finish. The pattern is well-written and I recommend it to anyone wanting to make Claude, but during the particular time when I started working on this, I was already going through extra hard challenges in caring for my elderly mother who suffered from dementia. The project remained unfinished in its own project bag for four years because I guess I needed to take a break.
One day recently I was reorganizing my space and I came upon the project bag. I almost put it away, but something inside of me was hesitant to do so. I argued with myself. Even though I’m an experienced crocheter, the unfinished project reminded me of something like failure. I had come so far. I was almost finished. As I picked up the project, I pondered and asked myself, “why did I start this project in the first place?” The answer is simple. I was enamored with the final outcome and the only way I was going to enjoy the final outcome was to keep on going to completion. The final 5 or so hours of work on Claude complete, I now have a satisfaction that comes with finishing what I started.
There are times when it’s ok to throw in the towel. I’ve begun crochet projects that abruptly came to an end when I decided I wasn’t really interested in making the item. I also have long-term projects that will never end because these are my “practice projects” which provide me the opportunity to practice new stitches and new skills. But when it comes to the projects that I’ve already poured my heart into, that’s when it matters to see the challenges through to completion. Overcome the challenges, push through, and finish your own Claude (or whatever your situation is called).
There’s also something deeply human about the journey from beginning to end. The learning that happens in the middle—the setbacks, revisions, moments of doubt and clarity—can’t be gained any other way. You only get the full story when you see it through. So when you finish what you start, you’re not just adding another check mark to your list. You’re crafting your own narrative, one completed chapter at a time, and reinforcing the story that you’re someone who endures, adapts, and overcomes.
-Kim
Hooked on Whimsy 