I don’t know if it’s because I’m an introvert or what, but I don’t think I’ve been bored in a long time. The journey of self-discovery is life-long, and there are plenty of paths to take.
I am still shocked to hear that so few Americans read a book a year. Some people have told me that they haven’t read a book since they graduated high school.
Self-improvement does not need to be in the form of a book. Each of us can learn by watching TV, listening to podcasts, getting our hands dirty, and learning by doing.
What I like about learning something new is that we create new synapses in our brain, and I like to think that it helps to keep us on our toes.
Back in high school, my best friend taught me a lot about computers. I didn’t have any formal training, but I learned a lot about programming in BASIC, video games, and graphics. Over the years, I have applied my love of learning to the arts and to mix that with technology.
Over the past twenty years, I learned about the web, social media, podcasting, and indie publishing. And more recently, I have been trying to learn online marketing of my books. I’ll be honest in that it’s frustrating because I am having such a difficult time. It’s not that I don’t understand the concepts, but rather, it’s putting what I’m learning into practice and seeing results.
Are you stuck in your daily routine, or are you pushing yourself to learn new things?
Overcoming the past could mean embracing the future and that’s what I’m seeing in the world around me.
Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, I’m seeing grandmas mimicking their grandkid’s dances on TikTok and I think it’s a blast.
During the pandemic, a lot of people are getting in making sourdough bread or doing an art challenge by reproducing a famous piece of art with items they have at home. It’s creative, fun, and allows people to express themselves during their quarantine.
But we don’t have to be in the middle of a world crisis to learn something new.
There are thousands of podcasts to listen to, books to read, hobbies to learn, and games to play.
I know that I have gotten stuck in my daily routines over the years: Work all day, come home and eat dinner, clean up, put the kids to bed, and crash on the sofa watching TV.
Over the last eight weeks, my family and I have had to be more creative.
I’ve loaded up lots of podcasts to learn new things, and I’ve signed up for free daily meditations.
Learning something new helps you to see that you are not locked in stone. You can learn new skills and to enjoy life.
Being an adult child of an alcoholic does not define all of who you are.
If you allow yourself to be locked into what others think of you (or worse yet, what you think of yourself), then the path could be narrow and frightening.
Do you want to learn how to ballroom dance? Then do it.
If you could learn something new and you could take on a new challenge, what would that be?
Give yourself some time to think about it and then give yourself permission to try it (and fail). That’s the thing about learning new hobbies and skills—we won’t be good at them in the begin,ning and that’s okay.
Maybe that’s why we’re hesitant of learning something new? Could it be that we can’t control the out,come and we’re afraid of that?
Embrace something, new and have fun.
Like what you’ve read? Be sure to check out my other posts in my Let Go and Be Free blog.