Learn something new everyday!

I decided to try learning how to use the Canva app on my phone.  I heard that students nowadays hardly use Powerpoint anymore because Canva is allegedly easier to use with lots of templates and designs... so i decided to try it out.  

After all, the best characteristic for learning is the willingness to try something new.

It started out with me making inspirational posters for my brother as part of my gentle reminders for him to take his maintenance meds... one poster per day from pictures grabbed from facebook and sayings/messages from my newsfeed.  Better you know it, I had created 10 designs!  I've started to get used to Canva.

As they say, practice makes perfect.  If you want to learn a new skill, you if you just want to maximize the use of an expensive cellphone so that you don't regret your purchase...

T1.  What new skill did you learn recently?

I remember when I was 17 years old, I was soooo excited to get my learner's driving permit so that I could learn to drive my car... I think my father almost had a heart attack when I was starting to speed up and didn't break abruptly when he said to stop.  He then delegated the rest of my driving lessons to my uncle Tony.  Today I enjoy driving because of the freedom it affords me.

T2.  Is this new skill a milestone?  How does this new skill impact your life?  Why?

The first time is always memorable.  

I remember singing the psalms in church the first time.  I was given a tape to listen to then the next day I sang in church.  No biggie.  I kept singing the psalms on Sundays until I had to leave for college.  This taught me how to be confident in my God-given talents.

I remember the first time I rode on a bus by myself to UP Los Banos and to rent a room and live away from home.  This was a new phase in my life when I had to learn how to budget and how to motivate myself to wake up on my own in the mornings, how to fend for myself and decide whether to walk or to ride the jeep... This was a lesson on independence and self-reliance.

I remember the first time I performed cesarean section as the primary surgeon during residency training.  My eyes were as sharp as an eagle's.  My hand was as steady as a sewer.  My heart was as brave as a lion's.  I had to keep in mind that surgical mistakes can spell the difference between life and death.  This taught me humility in service, accountability and stewardship.

T3.  What skill do you hope to learn someday?

My mother is a great homemaker.  She goes to market and makes sure she gets her money's worth.  She cooks and bakes.  She sews me dresses and bed covers and curtains and blankets.  She gardens.  She cleans the house.  She even does her own carpentry and paint jobs.

If I can only learn one of these homemaking skills, I would be more like my mother.