On no, mojo!

[alextheblue]

Bit of a controversial one from me this morning, but here goes.

There's no such thing as mojo!!

There, said it. And if you needed any proof, the next time you don't fancy going in to work, call up your boss and tell him/her you won't be in because you've lost your mojo. See how far that gets ya! I was looking back over some old threads the other day and it suddenly dawned on me how many people are not on the forum any more. I appreciate that people drift away for many reasons and that's just the natural order of things. But I was shocked at how many times I read posts where people were thinking of leaving the hobby because they felt they had lost their mojo.

Don't get me wrong, I get it. We all get dips in interest and enthusiasm, I get them myself. For me though, I get them a lot less these days and they don't hit anywhere near as hard as they used to. So what changed for me. For years I considered myself a newbie, a beginner, just starting out in the hobby. I was constantly looking to emulate this model, or copy that technique and I used to beat myself up quite badly when it didn't work out how I had imagined. If I'd had a bad session with the airbrush, for example, I would watch tutorials to try and work out where I had gone wrong. Instead of coming away inspired, instead, I would be deflated at how easy these people were making it look. It got to the point where I started to box everything up with a view to putting it all in the attic. Instead, I left it for a while and when I came back to the hobby, I decided to set myself new goals. If I didn't finish a model, it was no big deal. If the airbrush coughed crap all over my model, it wasn't the end of the world. This would be a practice piece. I slowly learned that just because something went wrong today, it doesn't mean it will go wrong tomorrow. By changing my expectations, I found that I was really starting to enjoy the hobby again, and guess what. I was getting more and more pleased with my results. Oh, don't get me wrong, I wasn't getting any better. My expectations were getting lower!!

Apologies for the ramble, but I guess what I'm trying to say is: don't lose your mojo, change your expectations and enjoy what you do.

[digger303]

Bit of a controversial one from me this morning, but here goes.

There's no such thing as mojo!!

There, said it. And if you needed any proof, the next time you don't fancy going in to work, call up your boss and tell him/her you won't be in because you've lost your mojo. See how far that gets ya! I was looking back over some old threads the other day and it suddenly dawned on me how many people are not on the forum any more. I appreciate that people drift away for many reasons and that's just the natural order of things. But I was shocked at how many times I read posts where people were thinking of leaving the hobby because they felt they had lost their mojo.

Don't get me wrong, I get it. We all get dips in interest and enthusiasm, I get them myself. For me though, I get them a lot less these days and they don't hit anywhere near as hard as they used to. So what changed for me. For years I considered myself a newbie, a beginner, just starting out in the hobby. I was constantly looking to emulate this model, or copy that technique and I used to beat myself up quite badly when it didn't work out how I had imagined. If I'd had a bad session with the airbrush, for example, I would watch tutorials to try and work out where I had gone wrong. Instead of coming away inspired, instead, I would be deflated at how easy these people were making it look. It got to the point where I started to box everything up with a view to putting it all in the attic. Instead, I left it for a while and when I came back to the hobby, I decided to set myself new goals. If I didn't finish a model, it was no big deal. If the airbrush coughed crap all over my model, it wasn't the end of the world. This would be a practice piece. I slowly learned that just because something went wrong today, it doesn't mean it will go wrong tomorrow. By changing my expectations, I found that I was really starting to enjoy the hobby again, and guess what. I was getting more and more pleased with my results. Oh, don't get me wrong, I wasn't getting any better. My expectations were getting lower!!

Apologies for the ramble, but I guess what I'm trying to say is: don't lose your mojo, change your expectations and enjoy what you do.

I get what you saying and I can agree with your point of view. To me mojo is just a lack of interest or I have hit a stumbling block and it throws me right off so much that I avoid the bench until I start to pick up the bits again. However right now work is sapping my energy after 12hrs I have had it.

[Timplastic]

We can be our own worst critics
Over analizing what you have built and then got wrong can put a big downer on your mood. It happens even when I’m at work. I have to find ways round the feeling which isn’t easy.
Living with mistakes on my models is something I have learnt to get use to. There will be an error or mistake on every kit. No one seems to notice them and once in the cabinet I don’t then stare at the error so it’s not a worry to me any more.
Not finishing kits is still a bug for me that I’m slowly getting around and feeling better for it.

The word mojo can mean so many different things and to every one it has a different meaning. May be saying I’ve lost my way would suit better

[Twokidsnosleep]

[bfrd]

I see your point. If anything else I think it is an over-simplification of complex situations. It is easier to say I lost my Mojo than describe how life has beaten you into submission and made you lose interest in practically everything. Think of it like saying "I have a stomach ache". 9 times out of 10 the issue isn't in the stomach, it is just something easy to say. Most people understand what you mean and can commiserate, It usually stops a conversation before it runs into having to paint a word tapestry describing how and why hot lava shot out of your rear end.

I think you are right on the money about changing expectations. Embrace the foul-ups they are your best teachers. Don't let a temporary change in life make you leave a hobby. Also, keep in mind it is a hobby (for most of us) and it is meant to be fun. If it isn't making you happy stop and think about why it isn't enjoyable anymore. Re-iterating what was already said, I know. I just agree.

[alextheblue]

I'm being a bit tongue in cheek when I say there's no such thing as mojo. As Tim rightly pointed out, some of us call it different things, but we all experience it to some degree. Sometimes, recognising it and accepting it can be enough to see it off.

A while ago I was struggling with a karate student who had seemed to have lost interest. Whenever I asked him what was wrong, there was always an excuse. "My gi's too tight", "it's too hot", "i didn't sleep well last night". I could see he was struggling with a new kata, but he wouldn't ask for additional help. I told him that when we take our coat off, we automatically look for a hook to hang it on, but sometimes it does us good to hold onto it ourselves. He spent the next lesson training with his coat on!!

Give me strength!

[Twokidsnosleep]

Ok good memes wasted on you lot.. .gheeze

[alextheblue]

Ok good memes wasted on you lot.. .gheeze

Too cool to notice, because.........

[Nev]

My issue of late is like diggers. Pulling long hours at work including weekends & very young kids! I just can’t pull together the energy sometimes to devote to modelling

[aur0ra145]

I always thought that lack of mojo = lack of interest. It happens sometimes, just deal with it and move on, or don't.

[digger303]

I'm being a bit tongue in cheek when I say there's no such thing as mojo. As Tim rightly pointed out, some of us call it different things, but we all experience it to some degree. Sometimes, recognising it and accepting it can be enough to see it off.

A while ago I was struggling with a karate student who had seemed to have lost interest. Whenever I asked him what was wrong, there was always an excuse. "My gi's too tight", "it's too hot", "i didn't sleep well last night". I could see he was struggling with a new kata, but he wouldn't ask for additional help. I told him that when we take our coat off, we automatically look for a hook to hang it on, but sometimes it does us good to hold onto it ourselves. He spent the next lesson training with his coat on!!

Give me strength!

I felt plagiarized ( used some time ago ) so wasn't going to comment cause I was ignored too Gotcha mojo

[Twokidsnosleep]

Ok good memes wasted on you lot.. .gheeze

Too cool to notice, because.........

Now that’s more like it...good on ya

[Twokidsnosleep]

My issue of late is like diggers. Pulling long hours at work including weekends & very young kids! I just can’t pull together the energy sometimes to devote to modelling

Yep.
That and a crappy AMT truck kit I am less than in love with and trying to do proper justice to scratching a SE5a while building the WNW kit of it.
Pressure on yourself, life, work stress, kids......

[Stokesy44]

Sick over the summer, weather crimps my painting over the winter as I have to open the window for the booth hose. I’ve got a stash of beautiful new tool kits but the bench remains a remote place for me at the moment. Call it what you like, I’ll be back at it at some point, just not yet my friends.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Sick over the summer, weather crimps my painting over the winter as I have to open the window for the booth hose. I’ve got a stash of beautiful new tool kits but the bench remains a remote place for me at the moment. Call it what you like, I’ll be back at it at some point, just not yet my friends.

Good to see you posting....you are missed mate

[Tomcat64]

Ok good memes wasted on you lot.. .gheeze

Not much to add to the general discussion that's already been done over - I think it was bfrd that said that "loss of mojo" covers a variety of reasons including lack of enthusiasm, motivation or just being distracted by life in general.

I'm struggling a little with my current project mainly due to external factors but I know it'll be there when I feel like getting back to the bench.

[Gary30]

Ok good memes wasted on you lot.. .gheeze

[Twokidsnosleep]

[Tomcat64]

[Gary30]

[Tomcat64]

[digger303]

One ring to rule them all !

[Gary30]

[digger303]

[Twokidsnosleep]

I don't have any insulting memes
Dammit Jim I am Canadian and a nice person not a monster

[digger303]

I don't have any insulting memes
Dammit Jim I am Canadian and a nice person not a monster

[krusty69]

<r><QUOTE author="Twokidsnosleep" post_id="322202" time="1542146389" user_id="2964"><s>

</s>
I don't have any insulting memes <br/>
Dammit Jim I am Canadian and a nice person not a monster
<e>

</e></QUOTE>
ah mojo<br/>
I lost it so bad it wasn't even funny. or maybe a passing fancy. well I sold everything but my compressor, my knife, and a pair of tweezers I use to catch scorpions in the bathroom.20181114_200559 by robert noonan, on Flickr
then I bought this
20180128_132009 by robert noonan, on Flickr
and then I did this to it
20180915_174827 by robert noonan, on Flickr
well plans change I don't think I can take that year off to ride to south America.
I need something to do. I really enjoyed modelling with you chuckleheads.

oh what about Quebec. the rest of you Canadian's should keep that in mind

[Tomcat64]

[Twokidsnosleep]

If it were rum your trap would be in business

[Tomcat64]

Yah - this one nearly caught two of them going after the same beer

[Twokidsnosleep]

One day I will have to video the ice machine in our freezer.
We use a frozen puck to smash the ice laterally so it doesn't build up and block the flow of new cubes.
Why frozen pucks?? well, there were a half dozen of them in the freezer of course for puck handling practice last summer

[digger303]

One day I will have to video the ice machine in our freezer.
We use a frozen puck to smash the ice laterally so it doesn't build up and block the flow of new cubes.
Why frozen pucks?? well, there were a half dozen of them in the freezer of course for puck handling practice last summer

Can't have the flow of ice cubes fouling up. Why how could you present a decent drink to guests !

[Twokidsnosleep]

One day I will have to video the ice machine in our freezer.
We use a frozen puck to smash the ice laterally so it doesn't build up and block the flow of new cubes.
Why frozen pucks?? well, there were a half dozen of them in the freezer of course for puck handling practice last summer

Can't have the flow of ice cubes fouling up. Why how could you present a decent drink to guests !

...with a few puck marks as a bonus of course

[krusty69]

found him in the loo tonight. funny thing during the end is nigh GB I wanted one in the worst way, how cool would that have been to be in the t rex's mouth.
20181115_205912 by robert noonan, on Flickr

[Twokidsnosleep]

Yikes man. I hope you tried out your new ‘personal weapon of choice’ on it
I don’t like finding Woolf spiders in the bathroom...with those things I would never pee again

[krusty69]

a shower shoe works best to squish them. first couple of times I squeaked like a school girl. know I'm just kind of used to them. I probably kill 4 or 5 a month. been stung a couple of times, burns really bad for about a hour and then tingles for a day or two. what are you going to do it was 75 and sunny today, there's a price to be paid for are winters