Before I get involved in details, the first thing is to express a certain frame of mind. Everything in life involves degrees of work, study, patients, and imagination. Bottom line, none of us is born with this experience. We may have a certain knack for some things, but not for everything.  So, lets make some “work” out of this concept, by breaking down that everything in life…

Work

      From birth, there was curiosity and wonder. As days passed, everything else we achieved was through time, patience, and repetition. At a young age, parents challenged each other to make the first word commonly used as “Mommy” or “Daddy”. The amazing thing is, we all got really good at frequently using the word” No” (so much for Mom and Dad). In all our defenses, our parents told us “No” more than we did or were allow, and, well, curiosity in many activities always had them say”no”. We weren’t allowed to play with garbage, swallow the salt shaker, tear up every piece of paper, and a lot of things to taste always came with, “No”. Geez, right from the beginning, there were restrictions, and in their defense, they were simply keeping us safe, and expressing what was not right. School started at an age, and then, there was a bigger world to explore, but “no” was still stated and for various reasons. More time passes, and we now had “homework”. And that was the first time we knew what work meant. Enough trashing the folks.

      From the beginning, we developed a concept of self. And, that self comes in various versions. The one concept that remained was what can we do (curiosity)? There were many challenges, and if it looked like fun, we unconsciously started to work to be a part of it. This can be games, sports, contests, and the list goes on. There was a degree of work and exercise(better call it repetition), but since it was something we chose to achieve, we overlooked the work and repetition it took to be competitive. Still, the was a mind set that made it worth the achievement.

Study

      To get to the next level in…well, anything in life, it took studying. Just to know the rules, limits (or more “no”), and even to start recognizing your opponents next approach meant to study and recognize it from previous days in that same activity. Of course, when it comes to any kind of instruction, if there is no challenge or understanding of how something is done, going to instruction is just that much harder to comprehend….to include why to study in the first place. Sometimes it feels like most of what we learn won’t be used anyway. But, how does any instructor or teacher know what you are going to need in life, especially when it may apply at first, but since the average person will go from job to job, and trade field to trade field, it is hard to know what you would need. So, maybe there is some truth in learning useless information. In some ways, I think computers and Office software of any kind appear so intimidating for the same reason; there are so many tools, format options, configurations, and settings, it appears to be more useless and even harder program to use. But just like a teacher, everything you might need, especially when your intentions may change, has been provided. There are simpler programs (I try to compare them as a workman’s portable toolbox or workshop in a garage;carried to do various repairs and small project building), but the more expensive supplies more possibilities (Like a workshop, or factory, where huge projects can be made, and if desired in an assembly line). Let’s face it, we all have chiseled something with a screw driver, while attempting to tighten a screw with a knife. But generally, we learn that the right tool, and using it for that specific purpose gets the job done fast, safer, or even…well, correctly. I had to make sure I didn’t say “No”, or “Wrong”.

Patience

      I think it comes with age, that we master patients in so many aspects of life. Well, we continue to be angry with ourselves when getting something thought of as simple becomes involving. But, if we take the time to do something, we prevent overlooking a step, breaking something, or needing to start all over to figure out “why”. A major chore may look overwhelming, but as we learn to pace ourselves, plan, and approach that big project in small degrees; over time, it does finally get done. And, what we finding entertaining as spectators, can take months of planning, routine and patients to provide that entertainment. Illusionists make the impossible come to life, and athletes break records in speed, strength and longevity(endurance), but all that came from time, planning, routine, and patience.

Imagination

      “If you build it, they will come.” That is a line that has been around for a long time. For many, that was a line in a movie (good movie too). To other’s, it is an old business line of motivation. And, that was just to thoughts that came to mind. When it comes to imagination, we can be the recipient of a good line or thought, or become the provider that other’s can relate to. Hopefully, I had every reader imagining that in one way or another, they have seen it in other infants, and can believe they were like that too, and the word “No” is the universal first word we have all learned and used….and often. Another thought, as time passed by the next frequently used word was…”sorry”, followed by the time honored, “It was an accident”. If nothing else, we can imagine. We later grow to imagine what we will or can become, plan on retirement, or have that home and lifestyle we would be willing to routinely work hard for, and with patience, we would get it. Of course, there will be hurdles and barriers if something takes time to earn, and with many unknown events that could go wrong. But, we want it, so we plan for it. When it comes to working with computers, it takes a little planning, and thought, to know what you are attempting to achieve. If you approach any software, and can sit back and think of what it could make and do for you, it can be done, with some understanding(Study), experimentation (and experience), and as time goes by (doing it routinely), your creativity expands, and you come to appreciate that factory workshop, and all its tools, wondering,”What can I do with this?”. It takes time. For now, don’t let it ever seem intimidating. Focus on what you see and can make no only sense of, but what you could use on a regular basis. And, if you enjoyed my Blog, then “yes”, you have the imagination. Honestly, give “no” a rest…and smile.