I always have. As far back as I can remember, I've drawn. I had lots of opportunity to practice in Math class. I'm way better at drawing than calculating anything. I have always considered myself an artist and not remotely anything close to a mathematician.
Drawing is partly a gift, I know. But, I must say that it also is a gift that gets better with practice. Just like pretty much every mother I know, my mom saved lots of my drawings from elementary through high school. I remember that people thought I was pretty good. I thought I was pretty good. However, when I look back over that art, I'm horrified by just how bad my drawings really were.
There has been a lot of practice over the last fifteen or more years as I've worked on my clip art website. I'm the kind of person who would never post anything unless I was absolutely completely satisfied. There is no such thing as "good enough". I always do everything to the best of my ability. Always. However, when I look at some of my earlier pieces of clip art, I find them embarrassing. I've been slowing redrawing them as I find time. So, like I said, it's a gift but there has been a whole lot of practice.
I also write.
I don't remember any teacher ever really being blown away by my writing skills throughout elementary, middle or high school. Once, a teacher I will never forget (or forgive) read my book report to the class as a poor writing sample. Talk about trauma in the classroom! I really wasn't a bad writer. My skills just weren't anything to write home about - in a report card or otherwise. But throughout college, I kept a daily journal. And, you already know what happens when you practice.
One of my favorite moments of my Master's degree studies was when a professor shared my book report to the class as a wonderful writing sample. The plot was a western and I wove in the title of every Western television show that I could think of as I reviewed the book. Of course, I thought it was a clever piece of writing, but I was delighted by this confirmation.
Later, the professor asked for a copy to keep in his files. I draw. I write. I don't organize as well. I had no idea where the paper was. The professor asked if I had any of my rough drafts. That isn't how I write. I mull my ideas over for a while and then just sit down and crank out my work. They rarely need much editing. The professor was even more impressed. He said I had a gift. I rewrote the paper for him.
Of course, it's always easier to write when you have material to write about. My travels have given me all kinds of material including earthquakes, typhoons, five bouts of malaria, multiple bus and motorcycle wrecks, one angry voodoo priestess, rogues with knives and a very long day in a Haitian prison. I really have no business surviving my travels across Africa, Asia and Latin America. But, I have. And, that's why I write.
I'm not the fastest person to accept new technology. I don't Skype. I see no point in Twitter. My life has no time for MySpace, Flickr, Vimeo, Vine, Instagram or Snapchat. To be honest, I had to Google "social media" just to even find the names to put in that list. There is nothing smart about my phone. My friends are a little amazed that I know how to make a website. I guess it is a little out of character. But, I saw the need for that skill. I still see no need for those others.
In other words, if there is a need, I'm willing to learn. Since I continue to travel to the far ends of the planet to paint my murals, I've been persuaded to add one more skill to my resume. Yes, I may be kicking and screaming a little bit, but the day has come.
Now, I blog.