Hello, readers!
The cold streak here in Colorado continues, which means our family of five is hunkering inside for the most part and, somehow, not getting too stir crazy. (Definitely a little stir crazy, though.)
With all that couch time, I’ve notched about eight books so far this month (two of them on audio), I’ve watched more sports than I have in ages — football and tennis, mostly — and I’ve had plenty of time to practice my new hobby, which I’m excited to tell you about below. It’s been nice to be a little bored, actually, but I’m also ready for some warmer temperatures.
Anyway, here’s what else is in store for This & That this week: a list of my favorite sports narratives, my new YouTube distraction, a couple great articles, and more.
Let’s jump in.
Something I’m Thinking About: A New Hobby
I recently started taking piano lessons. In person. At 10am every Thursday morning, I drive to my teacher’s home, which is a 10-minute winding drive through our suburban community. It was a bit nerve-wracking the first couple times I walked into her living room, but it gets easier every week. And ya know what? It’s been a blast.
I’m only a month in, but my lessons and (mostly) daily practice have become something I genuinely look forward to.
Though I played saxophone in high school, I went 15 years without looking at a piece of music and the piano was completely foreign to me.
To learn something from scratch as an established adult is a really weird thing, especially when you’re learning directly from another human.
We live in an age of self-education. YouTube, MasterClass, Coursera, etc. — I’ve dabbled in all of them, with various topics and skills in mind, and nothing has ever really stuck. It just doesn’t hold a candle to sitting next to someone while they guide you through learning a new skill.
I didn’t realize how much humility and courage would be involved, but it’s been a delightful, challenging, eye-opening experience for me. You’ll hear more about my journey over the coming months, I’m sure, but let me just leave you with this short exhortation: if you’ve been wanting to learn something new, find a teacher or class that isn’t on the internet. Find a little bit of courage to step outside your comfort zone, take the IRL plunge, and reap the rewards.