Are there pills for Sophophoria? Write me a prescription immediately, please. Everything has so many steps. So many instructions. May I go lie down now, please? Thank you for this comic strip. Where does the local meeting for Sophophorics Anonymous meet? Oh, wait, I also hate groups, and meetings of any kind.
What is the opposite of sophophobia? I had to look it up and each time I googled different phrases, OCD kept popping up as the top definition.
I have the opposite problem: a compulsion to constantly try new things, and let me tell you, as I age it has become more exhausting each year not only for me but the people in my life. So my focus the last year has been to stay the course and stop allowing new things aka shiny objects to distract me.
I didn't think about this as an OCD thing, but now it's starting to make sense. Approaching 60 this year my brain and body are desperately trying to tell me "Please, stop. Please slow down and nourish what you have. You don't need anything. Everything you are looking for is on the other side of slowing down."
I know this post was supposed to be about fear but I think it’s so brave to post “beginner” work in a discipline that’s well outside of your comfort zone.
I started taking improv classes a year ago. I’m a very silly person and expected (stupidly) to be pretty good at it. Turns out, it’s fucking hard! I have bombed a million times. Sometimes I leave class wondering why I continue to do this. But I keep going back. I have no plans to do anything practical with it. The joy is in the learning. And every now and then I have a great night and it’s the best!
Yes to sophophobia..... profound fear of the usual old people things like mah jong, bridge, canasta, rummy of all kinds.....break out in hives about anything that requires sitting and being nice. I am strangely attracted to the building trades, like learning how to weld, dealing with wires and hammering things. Who's with me?
As I've gotten older I haven't become averse to trying or learning new things. In some ways I think I'm actually more open to learning than when I was younger. When I was younger if I began to learn something new the question, "How can I commodify this?" was often floating around in my subconscious. And there were also many things that I put aside because I wasn't immediately "good enough" at them. If it didn't come almost naturally to me, I would put it aside. I didn't have the tolerance for trying, failing, imperfection, trying some more. I was so busy being busy, I couldn't take the time to actually learn something. Now that I'm older I'm still very busy. Maybe even busier. But I love learning! The thing about it is, I'm selective now. I don't feel I need to be an expert in everything. Or anything, even. Sometimes I learn a thing just for the fuck of it. Like loom knitting. I'm not particularly good at it. And the more I do it hasn't made me any better at it either. But here's the thing: I like it. I like learning new stitches even if they end up looking like mistakes in my hats and scarves. But doing it is relaxing and gives me something to keep my hands busy while I watch tv. So I keep knitting. Learning bits and bobs. Not to get better at it though. Just because I like it. And there's a real freedom in that.
Hi love to learn new things, I’m 85, have three iPads a smart phone and an Apple Watch. My problem with learning new things is I honestly cannot understand written directions. I just can’t. I have to be shown that’s all I have to offer.
I am a few months away from 70. I retired after 47 years in nursing- I just could not handle all the technology in health care and the lack of time for actually caring. In the last year I have started a small business ( very small) as a legacy life story coach- obtaining certifications in Guided Autobiography and Legacy Letter writing- I have needed new technology skills- How to record and transcribe stories, translating with AI apps because I now teach English for immigrants and I collect their amazing stories! And Book Wright to self publish legacy books. I can learn it- just takes me longer. I keep a notebook nearby to write detailed notes on the technology- click here, click there. As I struggle learning- I say to myself ‘neuroplasticity’ I am growing new brain cells!!!!
For me, it depends on the thing. I retired in December, after a long career in graphic and web design, partly because every day I was having to learn something new just to continue to do my job, and I got worn out. Things are changing so rapidly that the way you did things yesterday won't work today. Starting over every day or week or month is exhausting! Having said that, a year or so ago I started something completely new to me - art journaling - and one of the best things about it was that I had no idea how to do it and there is no pressure to be good at it! I'm finding my way and learning as I go and it's so fun! It's just for me, and it has changed my outlook and renewed my willingness to try new things. So, "no" to things I don't want to do and have no interest in learning; a resounding "yes!" to things I'm interested in and want to do! How wonderful to have a choice! I'm grateful for this time in my life, and for YouTube!
My goodness I wrote a comment and accidentally deleted it. ☹️ Here’s the short version: read this aloud to my 86 year ols mother who has dementia. She chuckled in all the right spots, so thanks for brightening our morning. I am an avid learner and insatiably curious. Learning to use power tools right now!
I great topic and one as a 70 something I have talked to my therapist about! One cannot deny one’s mental and physical decline with aging. We become a lot more careful and less likely to extend ourselves. QAs an aging athlete I’ve watched the abilities of my fellow ice skaters in their 70 s and 80 s really decline. The cool thing though is they’re still showing up even if they can’t learn new things! I was in a hospital lab recently that is now an all digital checkin! It was sad to see so many older people really struggling with technology and in a public place. I think the most important thing for me is just showing up for life, maybe learning less new things but still very interested in what is new. Which is why I love my younger friends!
I'm resistant to learning new things that I have historically hated (technology, new social media platforms) because I feel like I'm getting old enough to not have to do shit I hate that's ruining civilization anyway. Is that a justification? Yes! Do I care? Not particularly! But I'm absolutely down with learning new things that bring me joy. If I could just find the time...
After 2 or three failed attempts (multiple lessons each time) I finally had to admit that my brain at 69 is not sufficiently plastic to learn sheep herding. My dog had no trouble. Other than that, my reluctance to learn software and other stuff depends entirely on whether or not I need it or find it useful or fun. I consider this being smarter as I age about where to spend my time. Maybe that’s because I have less of it to waste, as the song goes….
It depends on what the new thing consists of. I’m 64. In the past year I’ve started learning Tai Chi and how to teach English to someone who knows very little. But do I want to learn how to do my taxes without the help of an accountant? No way! Do I want to learn to bake my own bread? Nope.
Are there pills for Sophophoria? Write me a prescription immediately, please. Everything has so many steps. So many instructions. May I go lie down now, please? Thank you for this comic strip. Where does the local meeting for Sophophorics Anonymous meet? Oh, wait, I also hate groups, and meetings of any kind.
What is the opposite of sophophobia? I had to look it up and each time I googled different phrases, OCD kept popping up as the top definition.
I have the opposite problem: a compulsion to constantly try new things, and let me tell you, as I age it has become more exhausting each year not only for me but the people in my life. So my focus the last year has been to stay the course and stop allowing new things aka shiny objects to distract me.
I didn't think about this as an OCD thing, but now it's starting to make sense. Approaching 60 this year my brain and body are desperately trying to tell me "Please, stop. Please slow down and nourish what you have. You don't need anything. Everything you are looking for is on the other side of slowing down."
I know this post was supposed to be about fear but I think it’s so brave to post “beginner” work in a discipline that’s well outside of your comfort zone.
I started taking improv classes a year ago. I’m a very silly person and expected (stupidly) to be pretty good at it. Turns out, it’s fucking hard! I have bombed a million times. Sometimes I leave class wondering why I continue to do this. But I keep going back. I have no plans to do anything practical with it. The joy is in the learning. And every now and then I have a great night and it’s the best!
Yes to sophophobia..... profound fear of the usual old people things like mah jong, bridge, canasta, rummy of all kinds.....break out in hives about anything that requires sitting and being nice. I am strangely attracted to the building trades, like learning how to weld, dealing with wires and hammering things. Who's with me?
As I've gotten older I haven't become averse to trying or learning new things. In some ways I think I'm actually more open to learning than when I was younger. When I was younger if I began to learn something new the question, "How can I commodify this?" was often floating around in my subconscious. And there were also many things that I put aside because I wasn't immediately "good enough" at them. If it didn't come almost naturally to me, I would put it aside. I didn't have the tolerance for trying, failing, imperfection, trying some more. I was so busy being busy, I couldn't take the time to actually learn something. Now that I'm older I'm still very busy. Maybe even busier. But I love learning! The thing about it is, I'm selective now. I don't feel I need to be an expert in everything. Or anything, even. Sometimes I learn a thing just for the fuck of it. Like loom knitting. I'm not particularly good at it. And the more I do it hasn't made me any better at it either. But here's the thing: I like it. I like learning new stitches even if they end up looking like mistakes in my hats and scarves. But doing it is relaxing and gives me something to keep my hands busy while I watch tv. So I keep knitting. Learning bits and bobs. Not to get better at it though. Just because I like it. And there's a real freedom in that.
Hi love to learn new things, I’m 85, have three iPads a smart phone and an Apple Watch. My problem with learning new things is I honestly cannot understand written directions. I just can’t. I have to be shown that’s all I have to offer.
I am a few months away from 70. I retired after 47 years in nursing- I just could not handle all the technology in health care and the lack of time for actually caring. In the last year I have started a small business ( very small) as a legacy life story coach- obtaining certifications in Guided Autobiography and Legacy Letter writing- I have needed new technology skills- How to record and transcribe stories, translating with AI apps because I now teach English for immigrants and I collect their amazing stories! And Book Wright to self publish legacy books. I can learn it- just takes me longer. I keep a notebook nearby to write detailed notes on the technology- click here, click there. As I struggle learning- I say to myself ‘neuroplasticity’ I am growing new brain cells!!!!
I'm not afraid to learn new things. I'm afraid to be FORCED to learn new things, typically by technology companies.
For me, it depends on the thing. I retired in December, after a long career in graphic and web design, partly because every day I was having to learn something new just to continue to do my job, and I got worn out. Things are changing so rapidly that the way you did things yesterday won't work today. Starting over every day or week or month is exhausting! Having said that, a year or so ago I started something completely new to me - art journaling - and one of the best things about it was that I had no idea how to do it and there is no pressure to be good at it! I'm finding my way and learning as I go and it's so fun! It's just for me, and it has changed my outlook and renewed my willingness to try new things. So, "no" to things I don't want to do and have no interest in learning; a resounding "yes!" to things I'm interested in and want to do! How wonderful to have a choice! I'm grateful for this time in my life, and for YouTube!
I love this, Sari! In fact, the new book I’m in the middle of writing, is all about this. Kudos for facing if, and creating an amazing comic!
My goodness I wrote a comment and accidentally deleted it. ☹️ Here’s the short version: read this aloud to my 86 year ols mother who has dementia. She chuckled in all the right spots, so thanks for brightening our morning. I am an avid learner and insatiably curious. Learning to use power tools right now!
I great topic and one as a 70 something I have talked to my therapist about! One cannot deny one’s mental and physical decline with aging. We become a lot more careful and less likely to extend ourselves. QAs an aging athlete I’ve watched the abilities of my fellow ice skaters in their 70 s and 80 s really decline. The cool thing though is they’re still showing up even if they can’t learn new things! I was in a hospital lab recently that is now an all digital checkin! It was sad to see so many older people really struggling with technology and in a public place. I think the most important thing for me is just showing up for life, maybe learning less new things but still very interested in what is new. Which is why I love my younger friends!
Sari you brilliant human!! You have just unleashed a new career as a graphic novelist!!
I'm resistant to learning new things that I have historically hated (technology, new social media platforms) because I feel like I'm getting old enough to not have to do shit I hate that's ruining civilization anyway. Is that a justification? Yes! Do I care? Not particularly! But I'm absolutely down with learning new things that bring me joy. If I could just find the time...
After 2 or three failed attempts (multiple lessons each time) I finally had to admit that my brain at 69 is not sufficiently plastic to learn sheep herding. My dog had no trouble. Other than that, my reluctance to learn software and other stuff depends entirely on whether or not I need it or find it useful or fun. I consider this being smarter as I age about where to spend my time. Maybe that’s because I have less of it to waste, as the song goes….
It depends on what the new thing consists of. I’m 64. In the past year I’ve started learning Tai Chi and how to teach English to someone who knows very little. But do I want to learn how to do my taxes without the help of an accountant? No way! Do I want to learn to bake my own bread? Nope.