Lessons Learned

There are so many things in life that we learn as youngsters and use later in life that have absolutely no connection. For me, one is playing jump rope, especially double dutches. It reminds me of how to merge onto the freeway. Just the right timing to jump in, speed to go and maintain traffic conditions, which is so much like jumping rope. Two people hold the ends, turn the rope and you have to decide when to jump in, when to jump again and how to time it just right....

On the other hand. There are things I was taught that didn't benefit me well. You know, when I look back at all the crap I learned in high school. Yes, it is a song! Spanish class for me should have been taught differently.  Some people may have done well with the monologues we had to memorize. To this day if I need a word, I have to refer back to a monologues to find the word. Same holds true for learning numbers in Spanish, where I still have to say the numbers in order to remember that siete means seven. Same goes for the alphabet. I have to sing the song until I reach the letter I am looking for when alphabetizing!

Growing up playing cards, Pinochle and Spades mostly and of course playing dominoes and Yahtzee have made me an addition whiz. I am quick to add numbers in my head and I remember numbers better than most people I know. This is one reason I don't use speed or memory dial. Use it or lose it I say when it comes to remembering phone numbers!