This & That: January 24, 2023

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.

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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.