This is a great thread! I get vicarious enjoyment of others' learning processes by reading what they are working on and towards. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's "flow" state can be found in these experiences of challenging ourselves with things that are achievable, yet challenging.
In November,
@AnasaziWrites posted
Want to become an expert? ][link=topic=7525.msg82893#msg82893] -- a very interesting topic and YouTube video about what it takes to become an expert. Certain points from the video have really been on my mind and having informed my practice since. For me, learning to be uncomfortable with practice, not just doing what is fun and comfortable because it isn’t challenging, was a big prod. Also, the concept of "deliberate practice" – deciding in advance what it is I want to learn and figuring out what to do about it – was an eye opener.
My overall objective always has been to improve my everyday handwriting and to develop a fluency in it. My interest isn’t necessarily artistic calligraphy, learning multiple scripts, or making presentation pieces. It is to communicate. I’ve typically been dedicating most of my practice time and energy to improving the accuracy of generating individual letters and words, and drills to improve my brain-eye-arm connections. This can be fun and somewhat rewarding, but I’ve not spent near enough time
just writing. The rub is that drawing letters slowly and “calligraphically” can sometimes produce something pretty. But “pretty useless" to me when it keeps me from my heart’s desire! It’s not a note or letter to somebody. When I go to write a real letter, it doesn’t look as good as I’d like it to be, and the process is slow and fraught. The drills and slow practice, while useful, becomes comfortable and comforting because I avoid the “pain” of writing many different words on a page that aren’t going to look as nice as when I practice very few things many, many times. I certainly will not be abandoning drills and technical practice, but it is a matter of degree.
Not sure if I’m explaining this well, but my 2023 goal is to measure progress more in terms of ounces of ink expended in writing long sentences, than in time dedicated, for example, to the letter “f” and ovals drills. Specifically, I’m working on light, relaxed, and more swift movements. Already, a small bit of refocusing in this direction has given me some hopes that one day I may be able to “dash off” a legible note or letter, maybe even pretty.
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Serendipity is a favorite word/concept but I wasn't aware of its provenance ... what's not to love?