Things I Can't Do

Birthdays are just those horrible days that remind you that you should be one more year wiser. I even hear that little voice of reason inside me scream that I can do anything, that nothing is impossible. Yet I think it's time to accept that there are just some things I will never be able to do.

Like doing my hair. Don't get me wrong, I'll still try, (even bought myself one of them straight irons for my birthday) but it's safe to say that if after 37 years I haven't mastered this daily chore, really, I never will.

Sing. I enjoy listening to singing, and there's a magic there I don't understand but feel in my soul. I long ago accepted that the beauty of song was in my ears, not my voice.

Kill little pests. I mean, mice freak me out, gophers annoy me, snakes are always in my way, but I just can't kill them. Relocate-- let them freak out, annoy and get in the way of my friends.

Figure out Google Plus. I love that place. I feel the potential there. I see the interactions. I watch others doing things, but for the love of writing, what is it?

Wear high heels. Another thing I can't figure out. Why do I need to pretend I'm taller by cramming my extra large feet into that tiny itty bitty slant? Can't do it.

Cook a perfect meal. We'll survive, we made it this far. This one really just come down to my attention span, it's easily distracted by other kitchen chores I have neglected.

Draw. What my mind sees can't ever be recreated with that much detail or perfection, not by these clumsy hands anyway. Words have always been more my thing.

Which brings me to writing. What is it I can't do as a writer? 

Take a day off. I'd kinda like to know that I could go without writing for a day or several and come back to it, but something inside me screams that if I taste freedom, I won't ever chain myself to my desk again. Maybe I'm just obsessive. Passionate. Insane. afraid.

I considered picking one of my non-talents and working on them, perfecting them, or at the very least making the attempt, but then, really, do I have time to waste on things I haven't cared enough about to master yet?

What has wisdom taught you? Are there things you accept that you can't do?




16 comments:

M.J. Fifield said...

Doing my hair is something I've never mastered either. I just put it in a ponytail every day.

And I can't cook anything.

Unknown said...

Great list, Tanya! :D If you're going to NOT do something as a writer, stopping is a good one.

I could probably kill a snake, but I can't do mice. I've been known to use live traps and travel several miles into the country to set them free. Which makes no sense, because I'm sure they are immediately eaten by a hawk or something. :)

writing and living by Richard P Hughes said...

I can't wear high heels either.

Jon said...

Growing older (hey, not that I'm old!) has taught me that I'll never aquire all the wisdom I imagined I would have. I'm always striving to learn and to perfect the abilities which I have been given. It would be a tedious and daunting task trying to master things for which I have no talent.

Anonymous said...

I can't kill pests either. I actually just bought a mouse the other day. As for taking a day off, I hear you. I'm always afraid that once I stop, I won't be able to start again. But in the end, it always works out. :)

Suzi said...

Love this. About half of these things apply to me too: the hair, the singing, high heels, and drawing.

Which is why I've given up on my hair. I just don't care. I only sing in front of my kids. I RARELY wear high heels, and really, they're not that high and I only draw when I'm doing art with the kids.

And I'm okay with that. (Well maybe I'd like to solve the hair problem, but oh well.)

Crystal Collier said...

LOL. At least you're not dealing with pests like, say, cockroaches, ants, and termites. They're much harder to get ride of. =)

I'm of the opinion it's never too late to learn a new skill, but the little time we have has to be balanced. I wouldn't waste it on high heals. ;)

Tammy Theriault said...

Shall i come over and help with some??? Lol

Jyoti Mishra said...

Figure Google+ ..
good god I've been doing that for quite sometime.. and I'm still roaming at the same place :P

Elizabeth Varadan, Author said...

What a nice reminder this post was. The hair thing, yeah. I just pull it back now and get on with my day. No more high heels for me, either. And for sure, Google plus. Mystified.

saniya said...

There'll be always things which we won't be able to do. But I like to believe that we r limited by our own thoughts. Great post and I'm clicking the follow button. ;p

Anonymous said...

I know you, my friend. You can step away from writing for a day or thirty, and you will always come back. It's just you.

Oh gosh, my hair. My hairstylist doesn't believe me about being useless at styling my hair, and yet she sees it every time I come in (for the past 6 years).

And I can't draw either. A very good friend of mine is a wonderful artist. We just have to accept the talents we have.

-Vicki

Petronela said...

I was certain I COULD NOT write a book in English (I am not a native speaker) but I was wrong.....So life can be surprising even after you pass a certain age...

Valentina Hepburn said...

I just saw this. A little late to the party, but happy birthday sweetie. Hope it was a good one. I used to style my hair great...now I can't. It has a mind of its own, sometimes OK, or sometimes like a sticky-up bush...thing. And I find I like heels less and less. At one time, always heels, now I love flats.
These things aren't important. You're gorgeous just the way you are!

DUTA said...

Great Post!

I can't draw even a straight line, and I envy those who can.

I can sing; in my childhood I wanted to be an opera singer when I'm big.

The perfect meal for me is a veggie salad and you don't have to cook, just peel and cut.

I wear heels only when I go to a big event(wedding)and want to look my best.No doubt, heels (or platforms) add elegance and height to my short figure, in fact to any figure.

As for hair, if you are lucky enough to have thick straight hair,you don't have to do anything about it; it will arrange itself. Unfortunately, mine is thin; nevertheless I've managed to find a style that I believe it more or less suits my face.

Happy Birthday to you!

Ruth Schiffmann said...

I can't cook or wear high heels either. And Google plus? What's that ;)