I freely admit that I'm a badge fiend - I like having badges on my camp blanket as a reminder of places I've been and things I've done. Which is, of course, why my sister thought that the Rebel Badge Club might just appeal to me. (She knows me very well!)
Some of the badges I've done have been absolutely obvious choices - Reader had to happen, Camper, Linguist and Brain Games were all straightforward too. I'm delighted that the lure of a badge didn't only get me doing the minimum for Geocaching, but since I remembered how much I enjoy it, I've carried on. I originally started in 2011, and between then and when I stopped in 2013 I found 10 caches. Since restarting earlier this year I've found almost 50 more! I'm still very inexperienced compared to some people, but I'm learning with every one I find, and have ventured tentatively into the world of puzzles and multi-caches too...
Funnily enough, two of the first five badges I bought are still in my 'unearned' stash: I'd expected to get Mindfulness and Board Games fairly easily, but somehow haven't got around to focussing on them beyond thinking about what I might do for some of the clauses. And I think everyone who knows me at all would have expected Craft to be one of the first I finished, but I've only just made a start on that!
I think for me the issue with Craft has been trying to work out where the line is between giving myself enough challenge to feel that I've properly earned it, but not making the challenge so overwhelming that I just can't manage. The request from Teen for a complicated knitted shawl helped to sort things out in my mind - that's definitely a big project worth of Advanced Craft, so the current pair of socks in progress can count for this badge. I wanted to count Cross-stitch too - and had the choice of a quick and easy free gift from a magazine, or finishing a large piece that I started several years ago. When I realised that I only have a photo of the freebie, and not the actual pattern, that decided it: although the stitching itself isn't complicated, having to take the extra step of working out the chart so that I had something easier to go on than just the small photo meant that this felt appropriate to be included. And now that I have definite plans for two of the items (and have decided what to count for a third), suddenly it all feels much more manageable! Phew.
As a motivation tool, the self-care badge has worked perfectly; I kept it going for three months, and although I had backslid a bit since my holiday (mostly by doomscrolling on my phone instead of reading), I realised that part of the problem was that I wasn't particularly keen on my bedtime book. That was a nice, easy fix: the book has now been returned to the shelf for picking up again another time in the future, and a different one started which should hopefully do the trick! I know that having a book I want to read is crucial in keeping the habit going, so need to make sure that I don't fall prey to the idea that I have to finish a book just because I've started it, whether or not I'm enjoying it at all.
Something that's surprised me is the way that badges which at first glance I'd utterly dismissed will suddenly catch my eye one day and call out to me. Detective, Rebel History, and My Powers are all in this category - and I've thoroughly enjoyed earning them inteh past few months. I started this blog purely for my Writer badge - I still don't feel that I'm a good writer, but at least feel a bit more comfortable with my own writing style now, and am planning to continue beyond the start of September when my six months will be up. As a non-drinker, Mixologist hadn't really appealed, but I do quite like a nice mocktail so am reconsidering this, and even Historian and Politician are on the list now...
One thing that I've particularly enjoyed is when badge activities help me connect with my children. Teen quite enjoys geocaching sometimes, and was slightly miffed that I'd found a few caches without her recently, after we had a fun afternoon together in which she had to climb a few trees in order to retrieve high-up caches! She'll also happily come and explore an exhibition with me, all about books and gifts, so that I can review it. Her passion for astrophysics also means that she'll help and encourage me with the last bits of Stargazer. Older Child is keen to help me with the Apothecary badge, as she wants to try making some cosmetics. Film evenings and board games together are always fun as well, and now might even tick off a clause or two! :D
Maybe it's just my desire to earn points for the Rebel Cup which is making me look wider, or maybe it's the promise of the section patches and perhaps even the Ultimate Rebel badge if I complete enough of them. One thing's for sure - I'm not going to run out of things to do!
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