When The Paper Tears....

My initial Idea. 

My first several hours of Folding. 

As everyone knows,  there are times during Origami when the paper tears. Many times it is the paper that is too weak for the model,   Or it it the Model that is too complicated for the paper.   Then again, it could be that you were in a rush and did not perform the fold carefully enough to prevent the tear...  Let us call this: Human Error.

Folding the scales. 

Similar to fish,  only more Dragon...

Whatever the reason or cause,   you are now dealing with a model that has a gaping hole in the middle of it and it looks unsightly.    And it is most likely that it has happened late in the game....  When you already have three or more hours of your valuable and precious time invested into it.   Here are a few of my sure-fire ways to deal with this demoralizing problem.

Uh.... Oops.   ( breath) @$#%@^@&

First!   In a loud and angry voice,  let out a few expletives.  This is very important.   It tells the world and everyone in the surrounding area that you are experiencing a tragic event.  They most likely will not help you,  nor could they if they were willing... But you will feel better knowing that all that initial pressure is no longer building up inside you.   And everyone in the immediate area knows it.

Most of them are only 4 letters long! 

Personally,  I use four letter words.   These are handy and easy to spell.   And I find that simple words provide the biggest impact with conveying a message.  That message:  "Oops!  I just tore my paper!"   Followed by your choice of l four letter words.    Go crazy!   Get creative!  It doesn't have to make any sense or even form real sentances.  (Most of the time,  Mine don't.) But that is Ok.   It's your moment to shine.

A balanced life. 

No wonder!  This paper is junk!

Second,   With the pressure now off,  you can  think about what has just happened and discuss with yourself (Because after step one, you are the only one left in the area.)  how it happened.   What ever you do,  do not blame yourself!    This would suggest responsibility and ownership of the problem.  And no one wants to own up to sucking at Origami. My own initial first response is to blame the paper.   Paper is ALWAYS the first problem.   You can never find the right paper and if you had the right stuff,  this would have never happened.

Let me think about mine..

Is this right?   Something seems
a little off here. 

Third,  Pause for a second and contemplate all the productive things you could have done with the now wasted time you spent on this model.  And don't stop there!   Think about all that time over the course of your life!  That  you have dedicated to an art form that is essentially worthless to humanity as a whole.   It helps you focus on the bigger picture and the things that have meaning in life... and How how you are not doing those things.

Similar to folding an Origami Dragon. 

But with less heat, and more stress.

And finally: Can you fix it?    Well of course not!   Don't be silly!   This is a one way trip on a Tight Rope  over a Volcano.  One mistake and  it is all over.   Once the paper is torn,  the only thing to do is crumple it up and start over.    Or give it up and try something that provides meaning and self worth.

Maybe I should find a new hobby? 

Wouldn' that be nice... 

Sorry if you thought this was going to be a "How to Fix it" post.   It's not.   It is a rant  on how I have not been able to fold anything for the last three days.   I consider Origami a curse for me.  I seem to be unable to improve past a certain point and it is frustrating.  And yet.... I can't seem to give it up.   Like a Drug, I guess.   But without the euphoria. Perhaps someday they will create a machine that produces Origami and I will no longer have to fold anything.  Or they could make paper that will not tear when you are in  one of those "non-folding" moods.