Lessons from the 100 Day Project: Part 2

3 takeaways from a messy ending

Jun 08, 2025

My first half of the 100 day challenge went so well. Then suddenly work deadlines, social plans, yard sale prep, vacation prep, traveling, and that silly human need for rest made missing a few days turn into missing most days for weeks. I only managed to fill 5 pages. The longer my project sat neglected, the more daunting it felt to pick it back up again. It no longer felt like a fun activity I wanted to to. It just felt like something I should do that I no longer had time or energy for.

Lesson 6: Reframing “Failure”

I do feel a bit disappointed I got off track, but I love what

Jenni Macklin

wrote on her Substack post, “It’s Aliiiive! How to Get Back on Track after Ghosting a Challenge”,

That’s kind of what a lot of these projects are like. You learn what works and what doesn’t. Sometimes through success, but almost always through failure.
And is anything really a failure if you learned something? Or was it just another step in your journey?

I needed a break, but then life got in the way. I think I managed to touch my project 60 out of the 100 days. Anything less than 85% used to feel like failure to me. But making art and following a self-imposed challenge isn’t a test. It’s Whose Line:

It’s all made up and just for fun! 60 days is a personal best.
I made more art than if I hadn’t tried this project.
I still had some fun, experimented with some new ideas and techniques.
I let myself rest without guilt.
I didn’t do it perfectly and I’m not feeling badly about that!
Those are all big wins for me.

I am proud of myself for trying and failing, instead of never trying because of the fear of failing. Yes, I failed to make art for 100 consecutive days, but there is no expiration date on my project. I learned a lot from this journey and I can keep working on my little sketchbook of my favorite things whenever I want to.

The fear of failure wants to hold me back far more than actual failing to meet a goal does. And I didn’t let it! So I still treated myself to a celebratory cupcake from SweetGirlz, my favorite local LGBTQ owned bakery. (Happy Pride Month!)

Here’s a little flip through of my 5 newest pages beneath said cupcake: Easter cookies in crayon, strawberry pie in crayon, my cute house in gouache, my yellow front door in colored pencil, and lastly neurographic art in marker and crayon.

Lesson 7: Reflect on your Why

Why did I want to do this challenge in the first place? I just wanted to spend at least 10 minutes a day playing in my sketchbook. Why? Because I don’t make much time for art consistently and I wanted to change that. Why? Because drawing brings me joy and connects me to my Inner Artist and my innermost Self.

Digging deeper into my Why does feel like a helpful reminder. It’s more than just an arbitrary challenge to make more art. It’s about showing up for and with myself. That is definitely something I want to continue prioritizing again.

Lesson 8: Find the Joy Again

I could make myself continue counting days again and fill up the rest of my sketchbook over the next few months, but the joy would be gone for me if I stick myself to just one project again. I learned from this challenge that I need more variety than that. Some days I will feel happy to play in this little sketchbook again, but other days I will want to explore other projects and not touch this sketchbook for awhile.

I decided to try using the reward wheel I created earlier this year into a creative play date wheel. I scheduled a small block of time in my calendar every day and if I need help deciding what to do, I can spin the wheel. I will set a timer for 10 minutes and do what the wheel says. I decided to fill the wheel with a variety of projects I have started but never finished. This will be a reminder to continue making slow progress on my projects, no rush but don’t give up.

May was so hectic that I also didn’t get even one bingo on my Bingo Goals Card. So for June, I am trying a blank card instead. Each day I keep my creative play date with myself, I will write it in a square and see if I get any bingos that way. I think that flexibility will help it stay fresh and fun.

Last week, I also made a “PRIDE: Local Queer Joy Bingo” card with the help of the Harboring Justice group I am a part of through my church, Harbor Online Community. Anyone can participate! Download it here.

We tried to give a range of practical activities that will spread joy to queer people in the different places we all live. It’s a choose your own adventure flexible to everyone’s different abilities and access. I put dots on the ones I hope to have filled in by the end of the month, but these suggested ways to support your local LGBTQ+ community can and should be year-round activities too.

My 2025 “PRIDE: Local Queer Joy Bingo” card so far.

Speaking of joy…

2 weeks ago, Mike and I went to a friend’s wedding in California and to Disneyland for the first time! My favorite rides were definitely Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride (it ends in hell!? So wonderfully dramatic!), Rise of the Resistance, and the Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission: BREAKOUT!