Keep Your Abilities Honed

“It’s never too late… To Update Your Skills

Never be afraid, or too lazy, to stay on the pace. Let your skills constantly grow. Challenge them. Build on them. Share them. And draw from others’ skills. Use your experience. But keep it current.” – Patrick Lindsay

Quote in book: “They know enough who know how to learn.” ~ Henry Adams

We all have things that we are good at. Some are natural abilities and talents. Others are skills that are learned. The skills we learn need to be honed and practiced. There are many things in my life that I have learned. Skills that I have perfected, that I no longer have the ability to do.

A perfect example of this is learning a different language. I learned French in high school. However, over the years, since I have not spoken or heard French very often, I only know a little bit of it. Although, just like any other skill (like riding a bike). It would be really easy for me to jog my memory and reacquire the skill.

The one set of skills that I once had and wish that I still had were some of my gymnastic ones. I wish I could still do a standing back tuck. A round off backhandspring back tuck. I wish I could still hold a handstand for a 30 secs (hell even 10 secs). I wish I could still do the splits. I used to want to build a gym and have classes for adults. I’ve always wondered if there are other former gymnasts out there that would like the ability to still do any of their old moves. Any of them who’d still like to do a kip on bars or a cartwheel on beam. Maybe just even be able to run down the valuting runway one more time. I know I always have. Maybe I should look into any of the gyms around here to see if they had any adult classes. The only problem is that I probable weigh too much and might break the bar! Haha.

As for the current set of skills I have today, I know that I should keep up with and don’t let them subside or fade. I don’t want to continue to have more regrets about the skills that I have lost. For some reason the only two things that are coming to the top of my head are the ability to sew and speak languages. I’m sure I’ll think of something else as soon as I finish this entry, but there you have it. Got any ideas?

I know that a couple of days ago I made a goal of learning new languages. Along with that, I should make sure that I revisit the languages I already know. =) I plan to finally finish those baby blankets I planned to make to revisit my ability to command a sewing machine. How about all of you? Any particular skills you think you would like to update and/or relearn? Any that you wish you had that you never did? For me that’s easy, I’ve always wished I knew how to play an instrument, which I know I’ve stated many times. =) hehe