Dad's Learning Part 4 (A Continuing Series)
Here we go again! Allow me to reflect in preparation for the upcoming session.
I like to imagine I am speaking to many people when writing these introductions and then to only my children when writing the bodies. Hopefully the changes in tone do not throw you off too terribly much. As always, I appreciate your time.
This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.
- Polonius (Hamlet, Shakespeare)
Things Can Come Easy, Sometimes
First, reflecting on the start of the prior session was interpreting certain quotes or using them to remind ourselves of basic truths and ways of living well. Shakespeare of course is a great place to start for these, for example the quote of Polonius directly above. Be true to yourself seems worthwhile to remember.
I have reflected more on “Who brings these thoughts back?” in Remember Where You Were that I wrote a few days ago. It goes more in depth than I feel I am capable of today for whatever reason. Additionally, I do not feel it reasonable to repeat myself and have people read it.
Also, we must make mistakes. That was a pretty large point last week. This was written about at length in the publication linked above as well. So where do I go now? Do I continue to reflect on what I have already given much thought?
That’s probably what needs to happen.
But what I haven’t given much thought yet is this: “Do I think everything must come hard or with a challenge?”
This question came about when we were talking about my writing, interestingly enough. I am not accustomed to doing things well without great effort or sacrifice, yet I haven’t been writing very long. I do not feel I write all that well, but some comments I have gotten recently have said otherwise. At least the ideas and correlations between ideas and popular narratives that I can tie together are apt or germane perhaps. Of course I feel this way or I wouldn’t follow any of those threads, it would be a waste of my time, but I certainly did not and still do not really have much confidence others feel the same. Why is that?
I will have to reflect on that more in depth. Why do I feel this way? Do I feel undeserving? Do I feel like I am missing something obvious if something comes easy? I absolutely do, actually. I just haven’t experienced something in life that I regard as worthwhile, and I see writing as notably so, that is easy. Even when I garner experience in a task or skill I look to progress, so they never become easy except what I have mastered already. I hope that makes sense. Basically, when things become simple, I put them down and look for the next step that will be difficult. Perhaps that has been part of my issue. I don’t spend enough time on one thing to not only become proficient, but to truly master it to the point the rules become malleable and creativity becomes possible.
That sounds like an exciting prospect. Maybe I’ll stick to writing and see if I can progress enough to see that become reality.