zlacker

Despite years in the Scouts, both as a participant and a Leader, I am embarrassingly bad at knots. I've always had a terrible time following visual directions given to me by someone trying to teach me a knot, and even worse at following picture guides, videos, gifs etc.

I can reliably teach an 8 year old Cub Scout how to do a reef knot and a clovehitch and that's about it.

For my shoelaces, I was making two buddy ears and just tying them together. I'd seen the Ian knot in a TED video as well as on this site and just couldn't get it. I tried over and over again only for the laces to flaccidly flop out of my hands, or for me to end up with a simple overhand knot.

It struck me one day, like a bolt of lightning, all of a sudden I was able to tie it. And boy am I glad I did. I think I was able to piece together how I needed to avoid a granny knot, but otherwise the inspiration was completely inexplicable.

Tying my laces with the Ian knot is such a small thing, but if you piece together enough of those little things your life will change drastically - for the better. If you can only do one thing for yourself this week, learn the Ian knot.