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roaringretro's avatar

One of your biggest challenges in your admirable quest, Max, is one you may not have seen yet. It's the affliction of your generation and the one before: convenience, fueled by a narcissim that, thanks to social media and Hollywood, is so ingrained in the culture it seems normal and even healthy.

Here's an example. My forebears and I grew up understanding that "I" was second. Always acknowledge the other person before yourself, was the teaching You were corrected if you didn't. Now, "me and my Dad", friend, son," (you name it) etc., is standard - and revealing.

Certainly, cramming for a month will achieve rudimentary understanding. Anyone can do it. Mastering is something else. It can't be explained; it's fully understood only in the doing. Immersed in it the secrets of the what you're pursuing give themselves to you as you go and not before. Learning for a lifetime creates the Master - please see the work of Da Vinci, Tesla, Buck Brannerman oh, and Mr Casey. Ask any animal handler of 40 years if they know it all. (If they say they do- run)

Finally, to further the point: I wonder why the Italians say the best place to learn Italian is in bed.

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Dan's avatar

I've always said; if you want to learn how to do something, hang out with people that excel at whatever you're trying to learn and act like a sponge. I've learned many skills in less than a month, sometimes in a few days. You're on the right track Max!

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