Such a wonderful piece. And feels similar to my own. I taught myself to play the piano at age 9 from beginner books at a neighbor's house, and by age 15 decided I wanted to be able to do the various things musically that were noted on scores and I didn't understand. Took lessons for about 6 months, enjoying learning new pieces at first, but hated practicing the same thing over and over, and eventually the teacher could tell my heart wasn't in it "to get better" and we parted. Over the years I learned that I have a relatively short attention span, I will become interested in something, delve into it, learn until I get tired or bored or just had enough (e.g., binge reading about the Russian Revolution, the Holocaust), and move on. I know just enough about a whole lot of things, not really an expert in any one thing, and that has fed what became my career as a copy editor.
I recently took a class on Van Gogh where they discussed the idea that he had some sort of neurological condition that made him see the world differently and that he painted how he interpreted scenes in his mind. Not sure if that theory is correct but it would explain a lot! Sometimes seeing things differently just makes you that much more amazing!! Isn't it great that we are not all cookie cutters.
That’s so interesting Gloria, and I would venture there are many who view the world through different lenses unaware that they see the world differently. I think we’re starting to learn so much more about all that because of increasing studies around neurodiversity.
As the mother of a child with ADD I learned that people learn differently based on the chemistry in their brain. We struggled until she had a teacher who was a retired rocket scientist. He told her she didn't learn like other people and then went on to teach her calculus and other math in a different way. Today she is a Professional Geologist.
Amazing! I ghostwrote a memoir for a woman whose daughter had severe "learning differences," and called them that, not disabilities. She had her own ways of learning.
Now there are programs at universities of people with learning differences. Yes, that's the correct term now. My daughter went to the one at the University of Denver which was one of the first.
Thank you for this wonderful piece. I’ve struggled most of my life with coordination and sports. To the point that I gave it up for many years. Now I walk for miles at a time and I’ve realized it’s ok to have had those failures. I can still be strong and move. Just move to my own drummer
This is my favorite post on this newsletter yet. Loved it. I loved it in large part because I too am someone who learns sideways. Traditional "push" education doesn't work well for me, Instead, I try to "pull" education to me. I learn best solo when I can. I learn in odd steps and not always according to an assumed learning progression. My learning sources are from all sorts of places that jumble inside my head as I work out the learning I want to take place. I learned how to get through traditional schooling by learning this way but pretending it was mostly the teachers who taught me what I learned.
Oh my goodness, Race. Thank you. You — all of you — have made an anxious period in my life so much brighter today. Those teachers of yours probably took note of your greath strength and determination.... And took those lessons home with them.
Kimberly, thank you. I don't give up. That is true. The coptic stitch almost did me in, but ha! I figured it out. (Or think I did :)) Thank you again so much.
Learning sideways! Of course! I was told I didn’t study my sign language enough, but when I watched others, their hands moved SO FAST. And they were across from me, not next to me. I couldn’t turn it around in my head.
Oh, this would be SO hard for me. Just as learning Spanish, my husband's first language, has proven to be impossible. I think the anxiety sets in—quickly—and this blocks my ability to receive. I completely empathize, Maureen. Turning it around in one's head — yes. The struggle of it.
Learning sideways is a great concept. I especially enjoy how you try new things. I’m older, but you have to start somewhere, and it doesn’t have to be perfect!
I love that phrase « Learning sideways. » I think so many of us learn differently than were told, but it doesn’t mean we’re not growing and learning, we’re just forging our own path. Beautiful piece 💛
I'm also a sideways learner. I have to do it this way: trial and error. I simply cannot care about an explanation from someone else. Are you telling me that I am okay!?
I hear you. I can't learn by listening, which was a problem in school. It wasn't until my mid 30s, returning to college that I realized what I *could* remember was the act of taking notes. I have trouble even following complicated relationships (like in politics). I need to draw it out, or write it out to understand. For me, apparently, there has to be a physical component. I have to drive, not watch. Which is funny, because my math brain finds answers without knowing how I got them at all, but it's comforting understanding how ones particular brain works, and doesn't.
This sounds SO familiar. You should hear me (NO, don't hear me) trying to do a radio interview. The questions feel like air. I need something written down. And learn by doing — yes.
“ The questions feel like air. I need something written down.”
Oh what a perfect way to put it!
Aural info bounces randomly in my brain like a pinball. I have to (gasp) think about it a minute, then feel dumb or like a suspicious character.
When the questions are really personal and bizarre, like assessment with a new therapy provider, it’s just overwhelming! These are serious questions, notes taken and time pressure applied on top of it. Maybe phone consultations aren’t the best format for me at all! This written format here is so much more conducive to considered information exchange. I’m still reeling four days later.
One thing I know about this brain is that it’s best as a crock: layer in substantial new information and let it just sit for at least three days, before making important decisions.
stunning absolutely marvelous
Marja, thank you so much.
Beautiful feeling in the world to have things align and fall into being, just right for one.
Yes. That feeling!
Such a wonderful piece. And feels similar to my own. I taught myself to play the piano at age 9 from beginner books at a neighbor's house, and by age 15 decided I wanted to be able to do the various things musically that were noted on scores and I didn't understand. Took lessons for about 6 months, enjoying learning new pieces at first, but hated practicing the same thing over and over, and eventually the teacher could tell my heart wasn't in it "to get better" and we parted. Over the years I learned that I have a relatively short attention span, I will become interested in something, delve into it, learn until I get tired or bored or just had enough (e.g., binge reading about the Russian Revolution, the Holocaust), and move on. I know just enough about a whole lot of things, not really an expert in any one thing, and that has fed what became my career as a copy editor.
You sound like someone I'd love to have a conversation with, Sonia. All that we gather up. The paths we forge. Thank you.
OMG the 💡just went on. Self-education as “gathering”. Hunting is totally different.
You have a neat way of distilling things into pure essence.
xoxo
that would be fun. How we teach ourselves, what we decide to focus on...
I recently took a class on Van Gogh where they discussed the idea that he had some sort of neurological condition that made him see the world differently and that he painted how he interpreted scenes in his mind. Not sure if that theory is correct but it would explain a lot! Sometimes seeing things differently just makes you that much more amazing!! Isn't it great that we are not all cookie cutters.
Interesting. It’s reminding me of Apple’s “Think Different” ad campaign.
I love this, Gloria, especially as I have been spending time with Van Gogh lately, reading more and more about that beautiful and haunted mind.
That’s so interesting Gloria, and I would venture there are many who view the world through different lenses unaware that they see the world differently. I think we’re starting to learn so much more about all that because of increasing studies around neurodiversity.
As the mother of a child with ADD I learned that people learn differently based on the chemistry in their brain. We struggled until she had a teacher who was a retired rocket scientist. He told her she didn't learn like other people and then went on to teach her calculus and other math in a different way. Today she is a Professional Geologist.
Amazing! I ghostwrote a memoir for a woman whose daughter had severe "learning differences," and called them that, not disabilities. She had her own ways of learning.
Now there are programs at universities of people with learning differences. Yes, that's the correct term now. My daughter went to the one at the University of Denver which was one of the first.
I am loving listening to this conversation between you too. Professional Geologist? Can I just say that rocks??
Thank you for this wonderful piece. I’ve struggled most of my life with coordination and sports. To the point that I gave it up for many years. Now I walk for miles at a time and I’ve realized it’s ok to have had those failures. I can still be strong and move. Just move to my own drummer
Same! I've often wondered if I should have had O.T. as a kid.
Sari, after many years as a teacher I became an OT and worked with kids for 20 years. It was the best profession for me
Susan K, walking is my thing. When I do most anything else (now) I hurt my neck, ruin my back, and wonder why I bothered to do anything but walk.
This is my favorite post on this newsletter yet. Loved it. I loved it in large part because I too am someone who learns sideways. Traditional "push" education doesn't work well for me, Instead, I try to "pull" education to me. I learn best solo when I can. I learn in odd steps and not always according to an assumed learning progression. My learning sources are from all sorts of places that jumble inside my head as I work out the learning I want to take place. I learned how to get through traditional schooling by learning this way but pretending it was mostly the teachers who taught me what I learned.
Oh my goodness, Race. Thank you. You — all of you — have made an anxious period in my life so much brighter today. Those teachers of yours probably took note of your greath strength and determination.... And took those lessons home with them.
Glad this resonated!
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. Your writing and your marbling. I’m off to buy both your books!
I am exceedingly grateful. Thank you. My Life in Paper has my marbled papers as endpapers. An enduring happiness for me. Thank you, Paula.
Love this beautifully written and what stands out to me is not just how you learn differently but how many things you try and how you don't give up!
Kimberly, thank you. I don't give up. That is true. The coptic stitch almost did me in, but ha! I figured it out. (Or think I did :)) Thank you again so much.
Learning sideways! Of course! I was told I didn’t study my sign language enough, but when I watched others, their hands moved SO FAST. And they were across from me, not next to me. I couldn’t turn it around in my head.
Loved the post!
Oh, this would be SO hard for me. Just as learning Spanish, my husband's first language, has proven to be impossible. I think the anxiety sets in—quickly—and this blocks my ability to receive. I completely empathize, Maureen. Turning it around in one's head — yes. The struggle of it.
Learning sideways is a great concept. I especially enjoy how you try new things. I’m older, but you have to start somewhere, and it doesn’t have to be perfect!
Yes. So very true. How boring and straight-lined perfection is.
I love that phrase « Learning sideways. » I think so many of us learn differently than were told, but it doesn’t mean we’re not growing and learning, we’re just forging our own path. Beautiful piece 💛
Forging our own paths. Together. Thank you, Danielle.
Thank you for this. I see myself in many of your sentences.
I love hearing this. Thank you, Gina —
I'm also a sideways learner. I have to do it this way: trial and error. I simply cannot care about an explanation from someone else. Are you telling me that I am okay!?
I am telling you that you are terrific :)
🎶takes one to know one🎵
I always felt that being left-handed made me learn "sideways". So many right handed teachers.
That makes a lot of sense to me. To more left-handed teachers, I say.
I hear you. I can't learn by listening, which was a problem in school. It wasn't until my mid 30s, returning to college that I realized what I *could* remember was the act of taking notes. I have trouble even following complicated relationships (like in politics). I need to draw it out, or write it out to understand. For me, apparently, there has to be a physical component. I have to drive, not watch. Which is funny, because my math brain finds answers without knowing how I got them at all, but it's comforting understanding how ones particular brain works, and doesn't.
This sounds SO familiar. You should hear me (NO, don't hear me) trying to do a radio interview. The questions feel like air. I need something written down. And learn by doing — yes.
“ The questions feel like air. I need something written down.”
Oh what a perfect way to put it!
Aural info bounces randomly in my brain like a pinball. I have to (gasp) think about it a minute, then feel dumb or like a suspicious character.
When the questions are really personal and bizarre, like assessment with a new therapy provider, it’s just overwhelming! These are serious questions, notes taken and time pressure applied on top of it. Maybe phone consultations aren’t the best format for me at all! This written format here is so much more conducive to considered information exchange. I’m still reeling four days later.
One thing I know about this brain is that it’s best as a crock: layer in substantial new information and let it just sit for at least three days, before making important decisions.