19 Comments
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Jim Larmoyeux's avatar

Don, you have revealed how working on putting my '41 Chevy back together is actually helpful when I run into something I don't know what to do. Often (if not available on YouTube) I've had to "learn" by trial and error as I run into new challenges. Now I don't feel so bad that it's taken me YEARS to get it to its current state of actually looking like a car!

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Don Akchin's avatar

Jim, I think everything we do after a certain age is just an experiment. Some fail, some work. It's all good.

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Brian Perry's avatar

I learned something new today … by reading your column on learning something new!

Well played, Don.

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Don Akchin's avatar

Brian, I had a dream a week ago featuring you - we were going to a Bryan Ferry concert. It was a bit confusing.

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Michele Cambardella's avatar

Helps to know that I am growing new neural pathways when I feel like I want to give up learning how to use a new computer program!

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Don Akchin's avatar

Michele, how true that is! But apparently it's good to feel challenged.

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Michele Cambardella's avatar

One reason I continue to write is because I hit that sweet spot of feeling challenged almost every time I face the blank page. When it gets hard, I remind myself that I am lighting up synapses.

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Leslie Fuquinay Miller's avatar

I try to learn something new every day. And today, you will too!

Old dogs CAN learn new tricks! That they can’t is a “widely acknowledged” myth!

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Don Akchin's avatar

Thanks, Leslie. I too need to learn something new every day.

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Alice Goldbloom's avatar

Thanks, we needed some good news. BONUS: it is based on scientific evidence.

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Don Akchin's avatar

Thank you, Alice!

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Susan Gerle's avatar

I'm a little over my 7th decade, Don, so I look at someone like Kari as a mentor!

I enjoyed what both of you had to say. I challenge myself to learn all the time. The last 10 years, since retirement, I have developed and taught 2 courses, published a book, and have 3 manuscripts on the go, all different genres.

My newest challenge is learning how to do short YouTube videos weekly. Stay tuned and keep learning!

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Don Akchin's avatar

Good work, Susan! That's awesome!

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Sharon Joslyn's avatar

I hear you Don. At the age of 52 I'm learning to read music and play the accordian. It's no mean feat, but good for the little grey cells.

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Don Akchin's avatar

Excellent, Sharon!

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KARA FUJI's avatar

Because I am inhabiting a 9th decade of living, it is a pleasure to share that last year I switch from an Android to a Mac computer: major learning curve. Secondly, not as mobile as I was, (DIY building, gardening etc) I embarked upon a memoir. Boy‼️ is that a mental gymnasium 🤣💯✅

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Don Akchin's avatar

Good for you, Kara! Don't stop now!

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KARA FUJI's avatar

Not likely my friend, there’s Avery good back story to tell🤣

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Susan Gerle's avatar

That's Kara Fuji, not Kari!

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