Thought Provoking Question of the Day 2

[pigoo3]

If you could learn any one skill in the world without trying, which would you pick?

Could be a skill, a language, a sport, a profession. If you want...feel free to share why as well.

- Nick

p.s. This is a toughie...I'm thinking I need to think on it a bit before deciding.

 

[chscag]

That's easy for me. "Be fluent in Spanish". In our volunteer work and generally in this area of the US (Texas and the SW) Spanish is spoken everywhere. I suppose if I had been more diligent back in my school days, I could have applied myself more to learning. But, back in those days that wasn't primary on my mind. LOL

 

[Raz0rEdge]

Be able to play musical instruments, primarily the guitar. I've been "learning" to do so off and on for many years. But the initial hurdle of it, time needed to master is just making it a multi-decade process it seems.

 

[pigoo3]

Ashwin & Charlie...you hit on two really good ones there (learn a language...play an instrument).

I could probably go either way...I think what wins out for me is play the piano. Been trying to teach myself for years off & on (probably just like Ashwin & the guitar). Can't seem to get each hand to do independent things!

- Nick

 

[Raz0rEdge]

My daughter started the piano a few years back, she being a kid when she started and being able to dedicate the time to practicing it has definitely helped her learn. She can read music and play simple pieces by just reading the sheet music.

 

[RadDave]

Ashwin & Charlie...you hit on two really good ones there (learn a language...play an instrument).

I could probably go either way...I think what wins out for me is play the piano.............

My feeling is that those two 'skills' are common wishes of many - I took undergrad Spanish at U of Michigan for 2 years (4 semesters) and was able to speak OK, but w/o constant use the language quickly faded - went to Mexico 6 or more years later (early 70s) and barely got by - there are a lot of Hispanics in my area and if I had daily exposure (e.g. volunteer work of some type in retirement), the language skills would return, I believe, although age is now an issue -

As to a musical skill, I played the accordion as a teenager, but did not have great inherent musical skills - still have an instrument and can play some simple tunes but would never have become really good - some of that is just inborn, e.g. my wife sings beautifully and plays multiple instruments, best on the piano - can easily 'sight read' which I would never have been able to do - OTOH, I was a good athlete as a youngster and she was terrible - people are just born w/ different abilities and the 'lucky ones' are those w/ multiple talents performed at a high level - just my 2 cents - Dave

 

[Rod]

It's definitely the same for me. I'd love to have learned a musical instrument well. And these days, living primarily in Indonesia, speaking Indonesian fluently would be really handy. I can speak enough of the language to make myself understood but in depth conversations are beyond me.


Sent from my iPad using Mac-Forums

 

[iggibar]

Anesthesiology- and everything required to master it. That was the career I started before switching for a few reasons. If I could go back in time, I would continue it, or learn it in the snap of a finger LOL.

 

[RadDave]

Anesthesiology- and everything required to master it. That was the career I started before switching for a few reasons. If I could go back in time, I would continue it, or learn it in the snap of a finger LOL.

When in medical school (U of Michigan, 1967-71), my 'future' specialties changed constantly - started w/ Pathology (loved the professors and the book), then later anesthesiology (just a month but I had a half dozen undergrad chemistry courses and loved the gases); again, enjoy my ophthalmology and OB/Gyn rotations - finally came down to internal medicine vs. diagnostic radiology and picked the latter - Dave

 

[badshoehabit]

To be able to sing - like Joan Baez or Joni Mitchell. Tone def so it will never be.

 

[pm-r]

To be able to sing - like Joan Baez or Joni Mitchell. Tone def so it will never be.

Sort of like this???
YouTube


- Patrick
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[lclev]

I would love to have a gift for learning language - Spanish would be my first followed by Gallic, French, and a whole slew of others.

Lisa