“I’ve got such a mess between my ears, like dishes in the sink. Stuff I don’t believe just tumbles in, till I don’t have room to think.  I’ve gotta empty out the inside of my head.” My head is sometimes so filled to overflowing that I need to let some of the contents leak out, kind of like shaking water from my ears after climbing out of a pool. In the past few years, I have been noticing a slowing of my memory at the same time as I have been called on to learn new systems, dive into unfamiliar territory, as well as travel to a multitude of places that require inner and outer GPS programming. I know that the more I learn, the stretchier my mind becomes; making new neural connections. Neuro-plasticity at play. A few years ago, I was asked to edit a newsletter for Cuddle Party, which is a workshop I have been facilitating since 2005. Because I had been a magazine publisher for 10 years, the previous editor of the newsletter thought I would be a natural. Gladly, I took on the task. He sent me step by step instructions, which I sailed through fairly easily, until I got to the part where I needed to cut and paste HTML code. For some reason, what I refer to as ‘computer gibberish’ didn’t cooperate and the words didn’t translate the way they ought to have. Back and forth went our telephone calls, and I noticed myself becoming increasingly frustrated and rather self-deprecating. I didn’t want to take up any more of Len’s time, so I told him that I would figure it out on my own and then get back to him with the finished product. I then went into cheerleader/coach mode with a twinge of mildly critical commentary. “Come on woman, you can do this. You have a master’s degree, for goodness sake!”  After a few more attempts, I decided to call a friend who owns an IT company. My friend Jason picked up the phone and gladly agreed to walk me through it, assuring me that he wouldn’t hang up until I had it nailed. Step by step, we went through the process, until he pointed out that I missed one step every time I did it. Triumphantly, I completed the newsletter and thanked him for his help; once again commenting that I should have known how to do this. His response was priceless “How could you have known? This is not your area of expertise. It is mine, though, and I was glad to help out.” Somewhere along the line, I had picked up this idea that I was supposed to be good at everything I attempt and not require assistance. How silly is that? Fast forward a few years and I was recently invited to be a contributing editor for The Good Men Project which focuses on “the conversation no one else is having,” about things that are meaningful in men’s lives. I was excited to be on board, until a twinge of fear kicked in when I knew that I would have to learn an extensive step by step process, as I had with the newsletter. An instruction sheet and supportive handholding by my editor is helping to quell my ‘oh-my God-am-I-going-to-meet-the-expectations?’ monkey mind chatter. At this writing, I have penned two articles, going for a third and so far, it is going fairly well. By the time this issue of Bellesprit is out and about, I imagine it will be a ‘no-brainer’. Is this something that plagues you? Think about all of the things you now know how to do that once upon a time felt daunting. Walking, tying your shoes, brushing your teeth, riding a bike, driving a car, doing your job, graduating from school, raising children, growing a garden, maintaining relationships….the list is endless. Some you may feel you have mastered, while others are still works in progress. As I am coming to accept, it takes patience and practice, a huge dose of humor and a willingness to admit when I need help to mount the peak of the learning curve. I invite you to join me on the ride…wahoooo! Empty Out The Inside of My Head from What You Whispered © 2000 published by Midnight Ocean Bonfire Music (ASCAP)/Cindy Lou My Dear (ASCAP), a division of Soroka Music Ltd.   www.davidwilcox.com Views:]]>