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A Year In Review for 2021 - Personal Development (Part 5)

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By Rena
2021 was a year I see learning in a different light.

Change the way I learn
And it was thanks to my daughter. Let me share my story.

My partner and I had been teaching my daughter piano. And the modern way to teach piano is to skip the basics and go to teaching to play songs. This way you raise the motivation level to learn piano. So shortly after my daughter started piano lessons with us, she could play a few simple songs ( with many stops in between). But after some time, she stop advancing. She has weak fingers. She has limited memory to remember the songs we taught her - since she was music illiterate. We took a step back and went back to the boring music theory. And worked on note reading, rhythm, music notation and so on. We also spend more time on hand exercise. This seems to be walking us backwards at first, but once she was able to read music, and had stronger fingers, she could advance forward easily. The improvement was obvious.

It reminds me of how I learn things in recent years. Learning just to get an answer, rather than trying to know the basics. The result was being able to solve the urgent problem quickly. But at the end of the day, I don't know anything about that concept. Is okay if I only need the knowledge once off. But if I need it for more times, each time I face it, I spend a lot of time googling and then solving it. Not pro. 

I have a few skills that I want myself to develop high level of knowledge for. I 've been changing my way of learning by starting from the basics, understanding it, before jumping straight into the more advanced part to solve it.


Learn Art

I start learning art. Art also became my way of meditation.

 I've been using Skillshare recently for art. Skillshare is basically a Netflix of courses. You can learn art, music, programming and more from beginner to expert level. You can also think of it as a subscription based version of Udemy where you pay per month to binge as much courses as you like. 

There is a free trial which you can learn loads. I realize there are free trials that range from 7 days to a month. If you didn't manage to get a month of free trial then try my link here, which gives you a month free trial (while it lasts) - great when you are on a holiday and want to learn things online.

I use Skillshare for kids too. When I'm busy, I on Skillshare with all the art materials and make my daughter draw with the online video course.  I recalled doing some canvas painting at some cafe years back. Seem similar except the instructor is separated from me by a screen. Anyways, it is a good alternative to Youtube.

Back to book reading

There was a point in time when I find book reading a waste of time. But recently, I started going back to book reading. There is so much to learn in (good) books. 

I also started reading topics that I seldom venture into. 

Bought an upright piano
I used to have an electric piano ( and still have it), but when I decide to go back to basic piano training for my daughter, I bought an upright piano on carousell. Upright piano should be used to learn piano if you are serious about learning. It requires skill to control loud and soft. It requires more strength to play ( due to the keys having more weight), and because of it being heavier, it trains finger muscles.


I also started playing classical pieces more often. In addition to art, I've 2 forms of  relaxation.

Digital Detox
Since I am not working, I could devote some time to cleansing myself from the digital world. I devote some days a week to no phone or computer.And spend time reading physical books, talking a walk, doing art, or playing the piano or ukulele. No Whatsapp, no phone call, and so on. Probably, the people who didn't reach me are the scam calls, and unimportant WhatsApp forwarded messages.

How nice it is to enjoy the world as it is without too much noise telling you what's the latest things that's happen about others which are none of my business.

How I rate personal development in 2021

In terms of learning, this is a year with a stronger urge to learn and to learn properly.  







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