Ask Bob Lampard

“What nasty remarks could be stopping you from trying something new?”

As a child were you ever told you couldn’t sing, or dance or do something? Or worse, were you laughted at and teased when you tried to do something?

Did that unpleasant experience put you off doing that activity again, even though it might have been something you loved?

It happened to me. I loved singing- until the day the whole holiday camp laughted at me when I was singing my own, very tuneful version of “Baby I Don’t Care” and I never sang in public again.

My eldest daughter, Helen, had a similar experience with Art at school. She was told she could not draw, her pictures were out of proportion and she was doing it all wrong. She was made to feel thoroughly useless at Art and Drawing.

So, when I suggested she redesign my pub’s signpost at the request of the brewery, Helen’s enthusiasm level was not very high.

She gave it a try, fully expecting it to be rejected. Judging by her face when it was finished, I thought it had been a really bad idea. However, the brewery loved it and commissioned it to be made.

She has taken a real shine to drawing and design and found she has a natural talent for it.

What negative experience from childhood could be stopping you from doing something that would give you real pleasure?

Bob Lampard