[QOTD] Skills
The demands of our daily lives prompt us to continually improve one skill or another, and at the same time our personal interests and ambitions also push in that direction. What are some of the skills that you've improved in the last year or two? In most of those cases, did you consciously plan and practice to improve your skills (for example, signing up for a class) or did it happen naturally in the course of events (for example, handling a new responsibility at your job)?
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What are some skills you've developed purely for the fun of it?
Over the years I have developed a lot of mixed skills just for the fun of it; something my parents encouraged growing up but more for the "you may need this skill someday" reasoning than for purely self enjoyment. As time allows I find myself stumbling around the how-to section of used bookstores just because I want to learn something new.
Skills like
I tried to keep this list reasonably small so I didn't include skills that I had to develop as part of school, work, etc. I would say that those skills, while I may have enjoyed them and pursued some of them outside the original venue in which I had to learn them, I didn't initially pursue "just for fun". These days I am pretty much focused on school and not challenging myself with too many new skills. However, I really do want to learn how to work latex. I am really enjoying it as a medium and I am inspired to make a few things for myself. We shall see how that goes. As far as further strengthening skills I already have established, I take classes or network with others whenever I have the opportunity. I also set aside time to practice whenever I can. For example, I take photography classes and workshops, I practice, I get together with others and pick their brains and I try to challenge myself when I can make the time. Once I am out of school I will have an easier time setting aside regular time to do such things. One of the other ways that I keep my skills fresh is I happily teach others what I know... it's really the best way to hone your skills, just in my honest opinion.
http://www.tenthousandquestions.com/
_________________________________________________________________________
What are some skills you've developed purely for the fun of it?
Over the years I have developed a lot of mixed skills just for the fun of it; something my parents encouraged growing up but more for the "you may need this skill someday" reasoning than for purely self enjoyment. As time allows I find myself stumbling around the how-to section of used bookstores just because I want to learn something new.
Skills like
- quilting & sewing (oh yes I was in a quilting bee fairly young)
- crocheting, knitting, counted cross stitch (skills that didn't stick for me because I just simply didn't enjoy them as much as I thought I might)
- making costuming from scratch, theatrical makeup techniques (ok that last two were for fun because we loved Halloween and did haunted yard displays every year I was living at home)
- Gaming/Strategy (cards, board, you name it... some games I developed serious strategy skills for and others I just play to play something and don't really care if I win/lose)
- Restoring/rebuilding cars (that was for fun--- basic repair was a skill I had to have in order to go take my driver's exam... dad's stipulation)
- Basic leatherworking & care (which ended up paying off down the road when I got into cosplay and such)
- Cooking beyond basic survival needs <--- yes I can make anything on a trisket thanks to dorm living. I actually started developing my gluten free/allergy conscious whole foods cooking skills years before DJ needed it just because I wanted to be a better friend to my friends when they would visit
- photography <----- my one true passion
- digital photo manipulation
- html coding
- cake decorating (skills that didn't stick for me because I just simply didn't enjoy them as much as I thought I might)
- crazy barista skills, back in the day when starbucks wasn't in every city especially in the south
- Scrapbooking, papermaking, etc... all self taught at one point and eventually pursued training and education before I started teaching to others
- mixed media art
- basic wood construction, staining and finishing
- martial arts (I enjoyed TKD the most and I miss it dearly)
- fishing, camping, hiking, climbing, repelling, & survival stuff (some of which I still do because I enjoy them, others not so much)
I tried to keep this list reasonably small so I didn't include skills that I had to develop as part of school, work, etc. I would say that those skills, while I may have enjoyed them and pursued some of them outside the original venue in which I had to learn them, I didn't initially pursue "just for fun". These days I am pretty much focused on school and not challenging myself with too many new skills. However, I really do want to learn how to work latex. I am really enjoying it as a medium and I am inspired to make a few things for myself. We shall see how that goes. As far as further strengthening skills I already have established, I take classes or network with others whenever I have the opportunity. I also set aside time to practice whenever I can. For example, I take photography classes and workshops, I practice, I get together with others and pick their brains and I try to challenge myself when I can make the time. Once I am out of school I will have an easier time setting aside regular time to do such things. One of the other ways that I keep my skills fresh is I happily teach others what I know... it's really the best way to hone your skills, just in my honest opinion.