It is said that human nature is like water - we like to flow downward. Meaning if unchecked we like to do things that lead to our downfall. Personally, i have experienced it constantly. If I don't have to cook food or clean my house, I will never do it - no matter how much pleasure I derive from cooking. Opposite is also true. We underestimate what we can do. I experience it as well time to time. Few months ago, I had more than one occassions to experience it. My father is very fond of music, sweets and entertainment stuff. A few months ago, we introduced him to iPad and he was hooked to the point that he ignored everything. I decided to cut the access to wifi so that only stuff already on iPad could be read - mainly books. After a few days of the access restriction, my wife and mom tried to talk me into resuming the access. It was inconceivable for them how my father will cope with no entertainment all day (we don't have cable). I convinced them to allow few more days of no access. It is few months now and I have to say that it has been great. We, including I, underestimated the power of my father to weather changes. The lack of access helped him and us see what else is possible. I got my father a diary since I knew his interest in reading and writing. In last month, he almost filled 500 pages and was so happy to share it with all of us. He also made a video diary by recording it on iPad. I think, this will be a great heritage for my son. Something so personal his granddad has left him.
Another example was during writing of the application to school. My wife did not believe that she can write a small document since she was so out of touch with writing stuff. She made all sort of excuses to not write. We had a big fight at the end close to the deadline. She cried too. I told her to just write as she is telling me a story without looking back what she has written. She wrote a lot and then later corrected it. The final version was very good. When she read the final version herself, she could not believe that she has written it.
We again discovered how much we underestimate ourselves.
Another example was during writing of the application to school. My wife did not believe that she can write a small document since she was so out of touch with writing stuff. She made all sort of excuses to not write. We had a big fight at the end close to the deadline. She cried too. I told her to just write as she is telling me a story without looking back what she has written. She wrote a lot and then later corrected it. The final version was very good. When she read the final version herself, she could not believe that she has written it.
We again discovered how much we underestimate ourselves.
