As a dedicated do-it-yourselfer who has spent many countless hours attempting to teach myself new skills, I can personally vouch for the fact that the DIY label is sometimes wholly inaccurate. At the very least, the acronym’s true meaning is misunderstood, as I have always believed that “doing it yourself” meant creating something by using your own skilled hands rather than going to a store or paying someone else. While I believe that most DIYers see it the same way, I have always had a bit of dislike for the “Y” in the acronym, as if the implication is that crafting is a solitary activity that you do “by yourself.”
Anyone who has read this blog in the past knows that DIY projects and crafts are often at the center of my social gatherings, and my passion for arts and crafts began out of a love of spending time with both my mother and grandmother. Now that I am a full-time DIYer and blogger, I have come to an even greater realization about the effect of crafting on fostering a sense of community. Not only are DIY projects a great way to establish a sense of closeness among friends and family, but to achieve success in the DIY business it is also necessary to work on actively developing that sense of community among all of those who are also trying to make a living through DIY.
I came to this realization after reading an article about Dr. Richard Ottomeyer in the Forest Lake Times. The doctor, who had just been honored as the Medicare Physician Champion Community of Practice Provider, had traveled nationwide to help educate other medical professionals on the coming changes to the ICD-10. While I won’t get into an explanation of what the ICD-10 is, the doctor recognized that the upcoming changes could adversely affect patients all over the country if medical professionals were not properly educated on the subject. Rather than see his peers struggle to help patients, Dr. Ottomeyer extended his professional assistance to ensure the continued health of his industry.
Even though many full-time DIY bloggers may feel like they are in direct competition with one another, it is in our best interest to instead create a spirit of community. If we commit to simply giving our readers the best possible experience by collaborating and sharing with one another, all of us will be better off. We may be called “Do-It-Yourselfers,” but I believe we should begin to place far more emphasis on togetherness.