The thing I’m trying to learn today is how to keep it simple – and it’s so complicated!
Here I am trying to be your coach and companion, trying to be your cheerleader for being new at learning something. And my big challenge today is that it’s me who is brand new at learning something.
Today my big challenge is: How do I get all this stuff up onto the Internet and make it function smoothly and work well for you and work well for me and not eat my time alive, but rather be easy and enjoyable to do?
And I think probably the key is to somehow keep it simple, but it’s so complicated to figure out how to simplify everything. That’s what’s driving me nuts today.
I sound like I’m ranting don’t I? Okay, maybe I am. But still.
Here’s what’s happening: I’m trying to learn a blogging program. I’m trying learn how to put web links in it and stuff like that. Links that will work smoothly, function well every time.
So I look at this stuff and I say to myself, “Look, there’s a lot of young whipper snappers out there who just do it. They make it look so easy! It just seems to flow out of them! So what’s wrong with me? Why is this so befuddling to me? Is there something wrong? Am I too old, too dense?
And then the emotional stuff starts to come in, and I start to wonder if maybe I should just give this up and go back to doing something I am good at.
So anyway, today it got so frustrating that I stopped and took a break. I went outside and I raked leaves in the rain.
Now, it takes a lot to make me want to rake leaves at all, never mind wanting to rake leaves in the rain. But actually, it really helped to clear my mind. It helped me realize that the gift in this experience of frustration today is that I am experiencing being a “beginner”, in all its glory.
As I am launching this site and this program to coach you and to cheer you on as a learner in your process with the guitar, today I too am a beginner. Today I too am connecting with how really frustrating and emotionally difficult that can be at times.
But here I am later this same day, dried off, wet leaves peeled off the soles of my sneakers, and I’m going back at it again.
Why? Because I’m really determined to learn this. I can learn this. It won’t always be fun and easy to learn this, but I will love being on the other side. I will love looking back on this day saying, “Remember when you used to think that was so difficult to do?”
Oh wait, just one more thing. Here’s one thing I love about playing guitar. At the end of this frustrating day, when all is said and done, I’m going to turn off all the technology and I’m just going to sit and play my guitar.
Ah, sweet.
Guitar Life 
It’s hard being a beginner but it’s equally hard, or maybe even harder, to try to make better headway when you’ve failed to do so in the past.
This is where I am now, having got back into guitar.
I’m looking forward to that wonderful feeling that I’ll get when my playing reaches a level where I can say I’ve got “there” at last.
Hi Jim,
Thanks so much for your thoughtful comment.
Can I ask you a few questions? It sounds like you are taking a renewed interest in playing guitar. That leads me to wonder:
What is your learning and practicing process? Are you taking lessons with a teacher, or working with an online or DVD course? Or doing it on your own?
Tell me a bit more about yourself and where you’re at with guitar. I’d love to see if I can be of help to you.
I identify with trying to learn something…like blogging and setting up web sites…as being harder to do when you’re older. It seems the same way with the guitar. I wish I’d started when I was 5, or at least 10. Geesh! It seems kids catch on to this tuff so much easier. Is it because they don’t think about the difficulties? I squaredanced for a number of years and children just seemed to be naturals at learning it, compared to us struggling adults…lol. But it does give me great joy when I pick up enough technique that I can express through my heart on the beautiful sound of the guitar. Am I ranting? Lisa, don’t give up. We need you!
Not to worry, I’m not going anywhere!
Hi Lisa,
Just stumbled accross your site and took a listen. Wow! You are really great. Wonderful voice,fantastic talent and ability to articulate the demonstrations of each performance and lesson in a manner that is undersatandable. That creates in me the desire to keep trying. I know most of my chords. Some picking and scales and have no clue how to put them together. I’m 56 ,picked the guitar up in the 70’s teaching myself and learning from anyone that would help. I put it away and now have a very strong desire to really learn. I give time to those string each day. But I am missing something. I’m going to try your lessons. Thanks, New on your block. Mitch
Hi Mitch,
Thanks so much for your kind words. I’m delighted our paths have crossed.
I’d really encourage you to consider trying out the Guitar Tricks website. Besides the fact that I have 300+ lessons there, there are literally thousands of lessons by a wide range of pro-instructors.
For someone like yourself, with some background, it can be a great place to hook up with some ideas of how to bring it all together and move forward in whatever styles interest you. You can check it out for free, and join full access for not much.
(Plus, this month they are giving away a free copy of my Guitar Intuition program for all new members!)
Here’s a link to check it out: http://tiny.cc/GuitarTricksWelcome
Meanwhile, thanks again for you kind note. Happy playing!
Lisa, I can certainly identify with your struggle with technology. In some ways it’s much like learning to play the guitar. Stick with it and it will get easier and provide you with much fulfillment.
I played guitar for many years in the sixties and seventies. Like many players, I became too “busy” for the guitar. I have decided to make time and see if I can rekindle the old excitement I used to get when I picked up my axe!
I can vouch for guitartricks.com as an excellent online resource for learning the fundamentals of the guitar. Great teachers make all the difference!
Ernie,
You’re absolutely right. I keep at it, keep practicing and learning, and it gets easier all the time!
Hi Lisa, I tried to learn when I was 16, parents paid for lessons and bought me a nice used Ovation but I just wanted to be able to play, I didn’t want to take the time to learn. I wanted to play hip songs not the notes of twinkle, twinkle little star, so I gave it up.
Now that I am 46 my priorities have changed. I will never be in a band of any kind and I may never be Stevie Ray, but I do know that I have the rest of my life to learn and I am just enjoying the journey.
I wished I had stuck with it, but now since I am doing it for me, for the self satisfaction and not to impress anyone else in a way it is much easier.
My memory isn’t very good anymore, but I find my patience is 10 times what it was so the learning is easier.
Thanks for everything because it has a lot to do with you and all the other instructors over at Guitar Tricks that truly make this journey much more pleasurable.
Jaime
Oh God, my first guitar teacher tried to make me play Twinkle Twinkle too. What are they thinking????
Tee hee, thanks for the funny memory!