For four months in grade 3, I took piano lessons. Today, more than 20 years later, I can still play a few of the songs I learned in those four months.

A few years ago around Christmas time, Christmas Canon was on the radio quite a bit. I was so taken by the piano in the song. I wanted to learn how to play it.

I actually investigated adult piano lessons. There were a few places I could take private lessons close by.

But then I thought of all the reasons I shouldn’t.

I live in a condo and don’t really have room for a piano in my 600 square-foot postage stamp.

Even a keyboard would be pushing it. And it’s just not the same. Plus I’d annoy my neighbours.

What would I do with this skill? It’s a lot of money and not a practical thing in my life.

And probably my biggest hurdle: I wouldn’t be good at it.

As adults, isn’t this the biggest stop sign? If we’re not going to be good at it, why even bother? We’d probably embarrass ourselves, people would think less of us.

But what if the goal of learning a new skill wasn’t to get good at it? What if we eliminate that factor altogether?

What if the goal of learning a new skill was to find joy in something new?

To find a new way to express ourselves?

To say ‘I did something hard’?

So I’m genuinely curious…what would you learn to do if the goal wasn’t to be good at it?