At a local pub’s live music event, struck up a conversation with the person next to me. We realized that we were both connected by a friendship with the musician on stage. Guessing that my new friend might be a fellow musician, I shared that I sometimes played cello with the evening’s performer.

“I used to play cello.“ my new friend who I was sure, I’d soon be playing music with, replied. But then he added, “I quit because I’ll never play like Yo Yo Ma.”

This was 7 years ago and I’ve never stopped thinking about this person.

I wish I had responded, “Would you stop singing, because you can’t sing like Joanie Mitchell? Would you stop writing, because you can’t write like Maya Angelou? Would you stop cooking because you can’t cook like David Chang? Would you stop drawing because you can’t draw like Andrew Wyeth?”

Why deny yourself the joy of creating and sharing and building community? Play, explore, embrace the idea of being an “amateur”, doing things for the love of it. I have been illustrating picture books for 20 years and still think of myself as a beginner. Each project is a new adventure. The writers and illustrators I have connected with, a community full of interesting and empathetic beings.

With my author debut, the graphic novel, Fake Chinese Sounds—I was definitely exploring unknown territories in my own creativity. In the process, it took me a long time to follow my own advice. But when I stopped comparing my work to the brilliant work of many colleagues, I was set free to find my voice.

Comparison is toxic. Give yourself the freedom to enjoy and savor the practice of whatever you are practicing (music, art, dance, writing, drawing, surfing, yoga, etc). And if you don’t mind a cellist who doesn’t play like Yo Yo Ma, let’s play!