That's what the boys asked me today. The actual question was, "What do you enjoy doing that you're *really* bad at? And I don't mean, just *not good*, but truly awful."
Uh...
Well, there's a lot I'm just not good at. Some of it I do enjoy, anyway. Some of it, not so much.
But something I'm really bad at and still enjoy?
That would have to be singing. I've been asked not to participate in church choirs, recommended for transfer from school choir to another elective, and all four of my children have screamed like they're being eaten alive when I've tried to sing them to sleep. I think that probably ranks right up there in the "truly awful" category.
But, oh, how I love to sing!
That got me thinking, though. How do we view the enjoyment-competency relationship? I think it's natural for us to enjoy doing things in which we succeed. But do we lose touch with the enjoyment of doing? Or lose sight of the potential to accel, if we press on, and find enjoyment? Is there much room for enjoying an activity or venture that you are truly, deeply bad at doing?
Worth thinking about.
There's probably a song about it, too.
Kiss those babies!
~Dy
11 comments:
I am really bad at learning words to songs on the radio...but I sing anyway!
This drives Emma nuts.
I want her to harmonize with me, and she won't cause I don't know the words.
It's Sad.
I'd have to go for singing too. While I've never been asked to leave a choir (but then again I've never tried to join one - fear of failure, I guess!) my warbling has not exactly attracted appreciation from anyone except for Gregory. That little guy loves to hear me sing, especially "Bringing Home a Baby Bumble Bee". Gotta love an adoring audience. :-)
I'm also not all that great at a lot of physical pursuits, but I enjoy some of them a great deal. I am not particularly coordinated, but I still like to play racquet games like tennis and badminton. I'm not particularly fast, but I still like to run. I'd never amount to anything if I tried to do these things competitively (in fact I'm sure I'd be laughed off the field), but that hasn't stopped me from enjoying them.
An interesting question though!
Pottery. Especially wheel work. I can't throw a cylinder to save my life, but I love to do it when I get the chance. It's very meditative. But all my results have been anything but stellar.
Good question!
mere
Another vote here for singing. In sixth grade, our music class was supposed to sing a tree song for an arbor day celebration. The teacher kept walking around the group, listening, and finally asked two boys and me to sit down and not sing, as we were ruining the performance. I love to sing anyway, but it took me many years to get over the shame.
The nice thing about kids is that they don't really care how good we are at much of anything. We're still perfect in their eyes...at least up to the age of 11. I'm not sure after that...no experience yet! I just do the things I love but am not too good at with, or in the presence of, the people who love me anyway. Maybe that's why they love me after all.
Sewing. I can sew you something. It will look pretty. But it WILL fall apart soon.
Who the hell made those patterns, anyway????? I mean, seriously.
But I love to do it anyway.
I think I could play a musical instrument OK. And I *know* I can march, and after much practice I can dance alright. BUT - put me in a marching, dancing band and it's BAD, very very BAD! I was AWFUL - I think the band rejoiced when I left. ;-)
Singing here too. And that drives me nuts because I can totally hear how it is SUPPOSED to sound in my head, but then it just doesn't come out that way! But I sing all the time anyhow.
This is an interesting thing to ponder because I have one son in particular that absolutely does not try things unless he is sure that he will be able to be reasonably successful at them. So obviously there are a lot of things he doesn't try! I think this is how I was as a little girl too--not much self-confidence, and a very low tolerance level for embarrassment. I think I have improved over the years, so there is hope for Luke!
I loved playing the flute. I stunk at it, but I loved playing. Then I moved up to high school and found out I would have to be in marching band or no band and that I stink more at marching than playing the flute. I haven't played in 21 years.
Much later, my kids joined an organization that required a lot of marching and I signed up as a registered adult. I love hiking, but I still stink at marching. I think I'm glad we no longer belong to said organization.
Oh, I am totally with you in the singing category. Truly awful. I love to sing though, but sure do bluff my way through the hymnal at church!! LOL
Kate
These are great, guys! Seems we have a musical/coordination type theme going, here. Hmmm. Thanks for sharing your enjoyable hurdles!
Dy
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