Thursday, November 7, 2013

Skills everyone should learn

To not just survive in life, but thrive, there are things you need to learn. Some of which (like proper hygiene, reading, manners and people skills) growing up will usually or ideally teach you, others you may have to go out of your way to learn, depending on the crowds you are in, and the time or money spent on you as a child. 

These are some of the most important "other" things I have researched and found personally that you will never regret learning:

Learning how to operate a Computer – Fundamental computer knowledge is essential these days. I'm ashamed to admit that I come out kind of weak in this area, but as I write this to share what I've read, not nessecarrily learned yet myself, this is first on the list.
Type – Learning to type could save you days worth of time over the course of your lifetime.
How to do Basic Cooking – If you can’t cook, you probably aren’t going to make it in survival situations, much less real life situations! This basic skill will save you a lot of money and allow much better health. . .allowing your family to thrive where others don't. So in a sense, this is a basic skill that the intelligent will learn for life!
Selecting Good Produce – Rotten fruits and vegetables can be an evil tease and an awful surprise.
Basic gardening- This skill is both practical, healthy, and most find it enjoyable to boot.
How to manage Time – Not doing so is called wasting time, which is okay sometimes, but not all the time.
How to speed Read – Sometimes you just need the basic gist, and you needed it 5 minutes ago.
How to drive a car- including how to parallel park – Parallel parking is a requirement on most standard driver’s license driving tests, yet so many people have no clue how to do it. (Including a professional driver I know!) Driving is not something you learn quickly, but with a little practice and a person to help you out, you can save yourself much time and money, not to mention gain a lot of independence!
How to speak at Least Two Common Languages – Only about 25% of the world’s population speaks English.  It would be nice if you could communicate with at least some of the remaining 75%. Sadly, Americans are the least bi-lingual group of people in the world, whereas in many other places it is the norm to speak a minimum of 2 or 3 languages from birth!
Basic Geography – If you don’t know where anything is outside of your own little bubble, most people will assume (and they are probably correct) that you don’t know too much at all.
How to smile for the Camera – People that absolutely refuse to smile for the camera are annoying at best, and lose opportunities and make bad impressions at worst!
How to navigate with a Map and Compass – What happens when the GPS craps out and you’re in the middle of nowhere?
Basic Sewing by hand and how to use a sewing machine  – It sure comes in handy for curtains, mending or gifts. This is best learned in a class setting, and it's most fun too!
How to remove a Stain – Once again, it’s far cheaper than buying a new one.
How to keep a Clean House – A clean house is the foundation for a clean, (healthy) organized, lifestyle. . . and while no one expects a lived in house with kids to always be perfect, there should be a place for everything. That way no time is lost in finding it or putting it away.
Detect a Lie – People will lie to you, intentionally or otherwise.  It’s a sad fact of life.
Basic mechanics- It really stinks to be stuck on a deserted road, or even in a lonely parking lot on a rainy day and be at the mercy of your cell phone with sketchy service, or on a holiday.
Basic handyman skills- It really gets expensive to hire someone everytime you need a picture hung or a room painted, so learn to swing a hammer and use a paintbrush at very least.
How to cut hair- Men's hair styles at least are very simple and easy to do with a small investment in tools. . .woman's styles, not so much. Thankfully woman don't usually need their hair cut as often, so you aren't wasting as much if you get only the woman's hair professionally cut. Besides, woman usually like the experience more then men, who find it just a chore most of the time.
First aid/CPR- Needless to say, this could say your life, or those you love.


How to play an instrument and sing- This is not only good for your entertainment and others, it is good for brain development and coordination. It will open up a whole new social world to you, and keep you from feeling like an idiot in the many social times that either require musical skills, or could be benefited by them.


There are numerous ways to cheaply and quickly become at least not an embarrassment in these areas. One of which is NOT, IMO, to learn to sing, join a choir and learn at the expense of others ears. (Better to use your own ears to learn the basics. Get some Hearfones to help.) Regardless of where you are coming from, if you can devote 20 minutes or more a day to practicing singing with some direction, you can expect measurable improvement within four weeks. Instruments are very individual, but many are easily taught to yourself, with a book or online, in a few months.

And that's all folks! If I've forgotten anything important though, leave it in the comment section below.
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