Be Curious, My Friends
Or why I'm taking Spanish classes yet again.....
Starting over can feel a bit intimidating, can't it? While the saying "begin at the beginning” is often shared without judgment, many of us find it challenging to admit that we might not be proficient (I didn’t say perfect!) at everything as we navigate adulthood. As we mature, it’s natural to think we should have effortlessly mastered or picked up numerous skills. Remember when becoming proficient with technology was a huge win? If you grew up with it, you might skip that memory! Yet, it seems that those of us from a different generation are expected to be well-versed and engage in conversations about everything from politics to X (formerly Twitter)—and wait, aren’t they closely linked? And as photographers, how many times do we have to remind ourselves to “watch the frame” or “consider the light”?
But there can be an awkwardness in acknowledging when we don’t know something or need to learn a skill that feels second nature to others. We often seek comfort in familiar territory and shy away from the unknown. Take our old friend Zoom, for instance; it has become such a big part of our lives, and while those classic group meeting hiccups (YOU’RE ON MUTE!) still pop up, just a little while ago, many weren’t even aware of a zoom meeting. Just yesterday, a friend and I chatted about the journey of learning and re-learning photography techniques, along with the nerves that come with starting over to regain a lost skill. I realized that sometimes I find more joy in re-learning things than discovering them for the first time! Skills we don’t use often get tucked away in the corners of our minds amid the hustle and bustle of life. However, starting over can be surprisingly wonderful the second time around! Or third.
With more experience and wisdom in our toolkit, another attempt might become a joyful adventure rather than a daunting challenge. On the other hand, learning something new—when approached with a child’s sense of wonder and curiosity, along with a flurry of questions—truly is a gift. It’s even more exciting to discover something new along a familiar path we haven't noticed! Life can become a never-ending journey of discovery or rediscovery, sprinkled with excitement, a touch of fear, and some hesitation but brimming with the promise of the new. What could be more rewarding than embracing a childlike perspective and welcoming or revisiting things with a beginner’s mindset? Let’s take that leap together and learn something new… again. Spanish class, photo workshop, dance lessons. Why not?
