Rediscovering Your Skills

Like I mentioned before, skills are acquired. Even if you do not know what your talents are, you can still learn skills. A skill is a competency as a result of years of training, experience and education. Anyone can have dozens of skills. Even fixing a small light bulb in the kitchen is a skill!

Some skills are also gifts or talents. Carpentry is a skill for some, but for someone who has artistic abilities, carpentry comes easily. He makes beautiful things with his skill and talent. Some children learn music when they are very young. All parents hope to bring out the musical talent in their children. However, not all children are gifted this way. Some can move gracefully eventhough they may not be able to play any musical instruments. Some are able to sing well, in fact very well after some music lessons ..... these are talents and skills blended together.

Some people have to work very hard in order to get their skills right because they are not gifted. However, due to their hardwork, these skills bring them success and recognitions.

List down your skills now. There are many which you many not remember that you have. These including cooking, cleaning, gardening and even raising children. You can also include some interpersonal skills such as listening, asking questions, motivating, persuading and so on.

List your skills in these categories:

Domestic

Business

Interpersonal

Sel Management

Recreational

You may be able to add more to your list as time goes by.

Learn A New Skill

Skills are acquired, not born. That's my principle.

I remember a few of my former retired colleagues signed up for computer classes the week after their retirement. Sad to say, they did not attend any of the classes eventhough they paid for them. I did not ask as that would seem impolite. Someone realted to me that these 'senior citizens' as they called themselves were burned out. I did not believe that.

In one of my macro photography classes, there is a 'senior citizen' too. He is almost 70. He bought a low end digital camera and attended my classes faithfully. He even follows us to many outings in the parks around the city. He makes it a point to show me his work. I know he is proud of his results. I am proud of him, because he has found a skill. He told us the other day that he has taken a few pictures of his grandchildren. His family displays the pictures all over the house. He is now a proud owner of a new DSLR which he does not know how to operate! A gift from his children as a graduation gift.

My father reads a lot of books on health after his retirement. He buys books and even goes to secondhand bookshops to get these books. He is forever excited with his treasures. I also wish that these books are in English Language so that I can also read them ...... Now, he has plenty of time to read them and to put them in practice.

My mother is already a very good cook. After her retirement, I can say .... she cooks better. She can even cook any food by just looking at the name! She has of course, a great collection of recipes!

There is never an end to all one can do ......... Start living again.