Today’s post is a guest article written by Julie Morris. She runs http://juliemorris.org/. A little while back I got an email from Julie:
Last year, at 53, I started learning how to play guitar. It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do, but despite constantly telling my clients not to get in their own way, I’d been getting in mine for years. Telling myself that I was too old to learn an instrument and that I’d be terrible at it anyway.
Well, I’m still pretty terrible, but with each new chord learned, I feel a sense of achievement.
Check out Julie’s website here.
Here’s Julie:
It’s Never Too Late to Learn Something New
One of the best qualities a person can have is curiosity. Truly successful people never stop learning. They genuinely want to learn new skills that can make them better people. Sometimes they learn on their own, sometimes online and sometimes with a group of friends. Here are a few skills you might want to try next as you try to become one of these kinds of people.
Playing a Musical Instrument
Learning to play a musical instrument is a great place to start. It will help improve your memory and even make you better at math. You don’t even have to leave the house – there are tons of both free and paid resources online to help you learn just about any instrument you want. Start with YouTube’s music section to find what you’re looking for. If you’d rather have a written guide, just do a few online searches and you’ll be in business. To learn, you’ll have to consistently practice, so set a daily practice time and stick to it.
You can also buy instruments online, but do some research to get advice on how to buy a good quality instrument such as a tuba, flute or cello. Make sure you’re getting the right size, look for the right brands and more. There are healthy benefits to learning how to play instruments. For example, as you learn how to play a tuba, you’ll improve breathing and strengthen your core muscles.
Playing a musical instrument also helps you to socialize in a way you wouldn’t have been able to do before. You’ll meet new people and develop the teamwork and camaraderie that only comes from working together.
Bodybuilding
If physical activity is more your thing, consider bodybuilding. This is a great activity to do with a buddy, especially if they are knowledgeable on the topic, and you’re a beginner. If you don’t have a friend like this, you should hire a trainer for at least a couple of sessions to teach you the basics and get you on the right road. Start with a basic plan – look at your body and decide what area you want to focus on. Don’t try to bulk up too much right away. Focus more on gaining the right type of weight with quality muscle over a longer period of time. Make sure you also build recovery time into your routines. Working out for hours on end every day doesn’t give your muscles time to rest, which is when they can grow.
Become a DJ
If you enjoy music and have an encyclopedic knowledge of music, becoming a DJ might be right up your alley. You’ll have to determine which kind of DJ you want to be – a club DJ where you would keep the dance floor moving, a performer where you would focus on displaying tricks such as cutting and scratching, or a mobile DJ where you would play music for parties, weddings, corporate events or other gatherings. If you want to be a party DJ, get familiar with software such as Spotify or iTunes. If you want to go the club or recording route, you’ll need to invest in specialized software and start practicing. Eventually, you’ll want to record some demos so you’ll have samples of your work as you continue to grow.
Learning one of these new skills will help keep your mind – and your body – sharp. Grab a friend and try something new out, whether your passion is music, bodybuilding or something else entirely. You’ll never know until you try, so get out there and learn!
Photo from Pexels