Begin and Begin Again

Nobody likes to start over.

Even though “begin at the beginning” is an often-quoted admonition with no judgement attached, as adults we don’t like to admit that we aren’t proficient (I didn’t say perfect) at anything.  By the time we reach a certain age we believe we are supposed to know or be able to do a lot or that we are at least able to pick them up skills easily.  Remember when conquering technology was a big deal?  Or maybe you don’t if you grew up with it from the cradle.

But those of us of a certain age are supposed to be learned, wise or at least able to be conversant about everything from politics to Twitter (oh, wait…. maybe that’s one in the same.)  But admitting we don’t know something or need to learn something can be uncomfortable.  We tend to get comfy with what we do know and just get stuck there.  Sometimes we stop being curious about anything foreign or new to us.  For example, Zoom (online communication) has become a part of most everyone’s lives these days.  Even though there still may be awkwardness in a group meeting (EVERYONE PLEASE MUTE YOURSELVES) this is something that 6 months ago would not have been familiar to half the country-at least.

Yesterday a friend and I were talking about learning and re-learning and the hesitation to start again to pick up a forgotten skill.  In that moment I realized that I love re-learning things sometimes more than learning it the first time.  Often, a task or skill not used regularly gets lost in the shuffle of neurons and every day living.  But beginning at the beginning-again-is often more fun the second time around.  Much more experience and wisdom can be brought to the task and the second time around might be more joy than struggle.  And then, there is learning anew!   A new skill or task approached with the mind of a child-full of wonder, curiosity and questions is a gift.  And carried even further, what a delight to discover something on a familiar walk that was never seen before  All of life can be a discovery or rediscovery, full of excitement, a little fear, a bit of hesitancy but full of possibilities of some new.  What can be more fun than being childlike in our approach to life and beginning or revisiting with a beginner’s mind?  Reclaim it.   Why not?