Ahhhh “scanner” is so much kinder and more digestible than “quitter” or “flake,” which is how I typically admonish myself for this built-in tendency to devour voraciously and move on. But a pack of wolves doesn’t need to stick around and earn a PhD in elk carcass. Maybe mastery is a unique skill unto itself, possessed by those with the constitution for it. The world has a place for those of us who get a thrill from skimming along the surface, snagging the juicy fish, and moving on. The breadth of your knowledge and experience comes through so clearly in your stories and perspective, and it feels bountiful, not facile.
I love that wolf analogy. So apt! I respect the masters, but I've noticed that once we get off topic from their life focus, it's hard to talk about other things. That's ok, we need those people too. I'm actually quite awed by such a focused brain. Thank you for the wonderful compliment. I never want to be facile. That word is so peen imaging isn't it?😉
Ha, as I was reading this post, I was remembering back to when I read some of Barbara's books. I was going to tell you about Scanners, and then you "beat me to it."
As much as I enjoyed her explanation about Scanners, I still had the usual feelings of guilt and all the rest (for not being able to focus on one thing, forever!). I started calling myself a "renaissance learner," 'cuz I didn't particularly like "Scanner" either.
Anyway, it's decades later and I still am in the same boat. Always cruising for something new to learn. Taking what I need, and leaving the rest. There's not enough time to learn it all - hah!
For those who are interested, Barbara Sher wrote the book called "Refuse to Choose" (and another one, called "I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was").
Aha! Thank you for filling in the blanks. Yeah, scanner seems hollow and superficial to me. I like to really dig in and suck out the juices before finding something else that looks just as delicious :)
Ooooh how this resonates. My brain is one of constant thirst and hunger. Always eager for more. Reading way too many books at once, half finished projects everywhere. It’s interesting how society wants to make one feel as if they failed. At times I have let that emotion sit with me. Not one I like. But I’m grateful that because of my “scanner” ways, I feel like I am a pretty approachable person and conversationalist. I have enough knowledge of enough topics that I can deeply engage with all walks of life. Such an asset, especially now. Thanks for shedding such beautiful light on how our brains work. 😊 your writing has always been beautiful to me and recently I truly feel as though you are articulating my thoughts on this screen. I know they are your own, but they resonate in a way deep within my bones. ♥️🙏🏽
Thank you, Alyssa. That's so good to hear. My husband always says, "How do you know about that?!" to which I reply "I don't know, I guess I learned about it somewhere." If I don't know about a topic in a conversation I am most definitely one of the most engaged, trying to learn from the people that do. :)
Oooh. This resonates with me as well. I like to start projects. Plan them, research how, and even sometimes get started -ha! But a lot of the time once I’ve sketched out what I think would work from what I’ve learned from my research, I’m good. I don’t actually need to build it.
And then if I start projects, once it seems I’ve got the skill down, if there’sa lot more work to do on it with the same skill, I really have to talk myself into finishing it.
This actually worked out beautifully for a long career in a small, fast-growing company. I got to figure out how to do something, teach someone else, and let them run with it and make it their own.
Wow! I’m a scanner! I was just lamenting the other day about how I seem to lack the fortitude or discipline to stick with something for long term. When I come to that new thing my body tingles and my brain fires and I am all passion about learning but it always gets to a point where it fizzles and I realize it’s not my be all end all anymore. I am going to look for that book. Was it just called scanner?
Nice to have you here, fellow scanner :0) I don't remember the name, but if you find it, could you post it in case someone else wants to read it, too? I don't remember if it was good or not, I just kept that part in my memory.
This is so me too, and I remember around that age really noticing that I was different from anyone I knew. It would have been nice to have a like minded friend like you did.
My scattered but passionate learning style has given me so much knowledge, I can be nothing but grateful. It’s so exciting to get into something new, or even revisit old topics as they become relevant again.
When I was an older teen I remember getting on a natural birth and parenting kick. I learned so much about mind expanding topics like attachment parenting, water birth, baby wearing (all of which my mom did before it was cool so I knew it was legit) homeschooling, etc. When it came time for me to welcome my son into the world, only a few years later, despite my life at the time being less than ideal I had a solid framework and steadfast convictions about how he was going to be brought into the world and raised.
Homesteading and animal husbandry topics have been a favourite since I was a preteen. My poor mom; I wore her down countless times until I had chickens, more chickens, way more chickens, ducks, rabbits and goats, in addition to any pet you can think of. I’d get an idea, research it to death (In that time you could read everything the internet had to offer on a subject and I would do just that, in addition to every book in the library), make my case to my mom, and not take no for an answer. I think my karma may have come in the form of my daughter. She’s only six but just try to stand in her way. She spends part of every day with “her” chickens, claimed because she has tamed them from day one to be carried around by her, and she has decided she needs her own chicken coop for them so she can do all of their care my herself. I was hoping she would let that one go, but it looks like I’m going to have to build a little separate coop asap 😅
I don’t criticize myself anymore for never gaining mastery on building, or herbal knowledge, or carving, or sewing, or gardening or any of the countless interests that I’ve pursued. If I never make money from them, or become proficient enough to teach them with confidence, at least I can say I’m a well rounded person.
This is so wonderful, Karla. I love the story of your daughter's tenacity, too. Ha, those little ones always grow up to be the most resilient, determined ones. ❤️
So true! Our intentions sometimes neglect to consider the outcome further down the line. My husband often speaks to younger folk about today's world's stuff with an exercise in long term outcomes so they can consider the repercussions far down the line. It often makes them - at the least - pause before holding on too tight to certain viewpoints that seem to sound 'good' and 'necessary' in their initial sense.
That's really interesting. It's odd how we seem to be in such a reactive, feel good culture when it comes to impulse control around the more hedonistic side of life, but when it comes to making more serious decisions, a lot of young people just freeze up. I get so many messages from people in their early twenties asking me how to make a decision. They are so afraid of making mistakes. Like, so what, I make a dozen mistakes before lunch! It's immobilizing for many.
'I make a dozen mistakes before lunch!' I love that! Makes me think of that quote from Alice in Wonderland: "Alice laughed. 'There's no use trying,' she said. 'One can't believe impossible things.'
'I daresay you haven't had much practice,' said the Queen. 'When I was your age, I always did it for half-an-hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."
You are right Tara! The day I admitted that I muck up a lot was the day I felt free. That realization of yes I messed up huge! I admit it. I learnt from it. All of the sudden people who could have, should have held it against me, lauded it over me, left off. Power gone. Because I owned my messes. Got stronger from them.
me, growing up in the suburbs, zero farm experience had to do what was best for a chicken suffering from poisoning, we had to euthanize her...and the worst part was that she didn't go easily. my partner & I cried a lot. at first we couldn't bring ourselves to do it, but we had to. profound respect for people that do this. also, I didn't give a shit, I went next door and threw away the neighboring barbaric poisoning rat traps that caused this, to hell with the consequences. My sweet stripey chicken was one of my first and I loved her...i know a vet who called them 'disposable" . isn't it crazy that you see chicken parts wrapped in cellophane in a store with no connection to the bird that was?
It is humbling to witness this moment you share Tara, 🤍. It feels like it impacted your life in a most profound way. Deep bow to that experience.
Now, As a fellow “scanner” ha! That is a funny term, but resonates with me nonetheless. I came to understand, maybe last year, learning as a “strength” that learners like the emotional charge when going from “chaos” or lack of understanding to “order” of some magnitude…it brought me so much peace because as others have pointed out societal “norms” really made me feel like not being “an expert” is failure…as a lover of learning it is hard to navigate this world not being “expert”. But, as time marches on another insight…the definition of artistry is bringing order to chaos so in effect are we all artists of our own lives? And so that has become how I look at these experiences in life as art🤍. Today is Thanksgiving in the states…thank you Tara for sharing with us🤍
Ahhhh “scanner” is so much kinder and more digestible than “quitter” or “flake,” which is how I typically admonish myself for this built-in tendency to devour voraciously and move on. But a pack of wolves doesn’t need to stick around and earn a PhD in elk carcass. Maybe mastery is a unique skill unto itself, possessed by those with the constitution for it. The world has a place for those of us who get a thrill from skimming along the surface, snagging the juicy fish, and moving on. The breadth of your knowledge and experience comes through so clearly in your stories and perspective, and it feels bountiful, not facile.
I love that wolf analogy. So apt! I respect the masters, but I've noticed that once we get off topic from their life focus, it's hard to talk about other things. That's ok, we need those people too. I'm actually quite awed by such a focused brain. Thank you for the wonderful compliment. I never want to be facile. That word is so peen imaging isn't it?😉
Ha, as I was reading this post, I was remembering back to when I read some of Barbara's books. I was going to tell you about Scanners, and then you "beat me to it."
As much as I enjoyed her explanation about Scanners, I still had the usual feelings of guilt and all the rest (for not being able to focus on one thing, forever!). I started calling myself a "renaissance learner," 'cuz I didn't particularly like "Scanner" either.
Anyway, it's decades later and I still am in the same boat. Always cruising for something new to learn. Taking what I need, and leaving the rest. There's not enough time to learn it all - hah!
For those who are interested, Barbara Sher wrote the book called "Refuse to Choose" (and another one, called "I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was").
Best to all, from The US Rockies!
Aha! Thank you for filling in the blanks. Yeah, scanner seems hollow and superficial to me. I like to really dig in and suck out the juices before finding something else that looks just as delicious :)
Mmmm, yeah, "dig in and suck out all the juices..." Maybe I'll call it the Marrow Method, so I am now Marrow Method Man!
Ooooh how this resonates. My brain is one of constant thirst and hunger. Always eager for more. Reading way too many books at once, half finished projects everywhere. It’s interesting how society wants to make one feel as if they failed. At times I have let that emotion sit with me. Not one I like. But I’m grateful that because of my “scanner” ways, I feel like I am a pretty approachable person and conversationalist. I have enough knowledge of enough topics that I can deeply engage with all walks of life. Such an asset, especially now. Thanks for shedding such beautiful light on how our brains work. 😊 your writing has always been beautiful to me and recently I truly feel as though you are articulating my thoughts on this screen. I know they are your own, but they resonate in a way deep within my bones. ♥️🙏🏽
Thank you, Alyssa. That's so good to hear. My husband always says, "How do you know about that?!" to which I reply "I don't know, I guess I learned about it somewhere." If I don't know about a topic in a conversation I am most definitely one of the most engaged, trying to learn from the people that do. :)
Oooh. This resonates with me as well. I like to start projects. Plan them, research how, and even sometimes get started -ha! But a lot of the time once I’ve sketched out what I think would work from what I’ve learned from my research, I’m good. I don’t actually need to build it.
And then if I start projects, once it seems I’ve got the skill down, if there’sa lot more work to do on it with the same skill, I really have to talk myself into finishing it.
This actually worked out beautifully for a long career in a small, fast-growing company. I got to figure out how to do something, teach someone else, and let them run with it and make it their own.
Nice! There's such joy in figuring out that we aren't defective after all 🙂 Maybe it's just another way of doing things. Go figure.
Wow! I’m a scanner! I was just lamenting the other day about how I seem to lack the fortitude or discipline to stick with something for long term. When I come to that new thing my body tingles and my brain fires and I am all passion about learning but it always gets to a point where it fizzles and I realize it’s not my be all end all anymore. I am going to look for that book. Was it just called scanner?
Nice to have you here, fellow scanner :0) I don't remember the name, but if you find it, could you post it in case someone else wants to read it, too? I don't remember if it was good or not, I just kept that part in my memory.
As a fellow “scanner”, this was a much needed perception correction. Love your writing. 💜
Crikey - age 47 and finally a diagnosis for me! :)
This is so me too, and I remember around that age really noticing that I was different from anyone I knew. It would have been nice to have a like minded friend like you did.
My scattered but passionate learning style has given me so much knowledge, I can be nothing but grateful. It’s so exciting to get into something new, or even revisit old topics as they become relevant again.
When I was an older teen I remember getting on a natural birth and parenting kick. I learned so much about mind expanding topics like attachment parenting, water birth, baby wearing (all of which my mom did before it was cool so I knew it was legit) homeschooling, etc. When it came time for me to welcome my son into the world, only a few years later, despite my life at the time being less than ideal I had a solid framework and steadfast convictions about how he was going to be brought into the world and raised.
Homesteading and animal husbandry topics have been a favourite since I was a preteen. My poor mom; I wore her down countless times until I had chickens, more chickens, way more chickens, ducks, rabbits and goats, in addition to any pet you can think of. I’d get an idea, research it to death (In that time you could read everything the internet had to offer on a subject and I would do just that, in addition to every book in the library), make my case to my mom, and not take no for an answer. I think my karma may have come in the form of my daughter. She’s only six but just try to stand in her way. She spends part of every day with “her” chickens, claimed because she has tamed them from day one to be carried around by her, and she has decided she needs her own chicken coop for them so she can do all of their care my herself. I was hoping she would let that one go, but it looks like I’m going to have to build a little separate coop asap 😅
I don’t criticize myself anymore for never gaining mastery on building, or herbal knowledge, or carving, or sewing, or gardening or any of the countless interests that I’ve pursued. If I never make money from them, or become proficient enough to teach them with confidence, at least I can say I’m a well rounded person.
This is so wonderful, Karla. I love the story of your daughter's tenacity, too. Ha, those little ones always grow up to be the most resilient, determined ones. ❤️
So true! Our intentions sometimes neglect to consider the outcome further down the line. My husband often speaks to younger folk about today's world's stuff with an exercise in long term outcomes so they can consider the repercussions far down the line. It often makes them - at the least - pause before holding on too tight to certain viewpoints that seem to sound 'good' and 'necessary' in their initial sense.
That's really interesting. It's odd how we seem to be in such a reactive, feel good culture when it comes to impulse control around the more hedonistic side of life, but when it comes to making more serious decisions, a lot of young people just freeze up. I get so many messages from people in their early twenties asking me how to make a decision. They are so afraid of making mistakes. Like, so what, I make a dozen mistakes before lunch! It's immobilizing for many.
'I make a dozen mistakes before lunch!' I love that! Makes me think of that quote from Alice in Wonderland: "Alice laughed. 'There's no use trying,' she said. 'One can't believe impossible things.'
'I daresay you haven't had much practice,' said the Queen. 'When I was your age, I always did it for half-an-hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."
You are right Tara! The day I admitted that I muck up a lot was the day I felt free. That realization of yes I messed up huge! I admit it. I learnt from it. All of the sudden people who could have, should have held it against me, lauded it over me, left off. Power gone. Because I owned my messes. Got stronger from them.
me, growing up in the suburbs, zero farm experience had to do what was best for a chicken suffering from poisoning, we had to euthanize her...and the worst part was that she didn't go easily. my partner & I cried a lot. at first we couldn't bring ourselves to do it, but we had to. profound respect for people that do this. also, I didn't give a shit, I went next door and threw away the neighboring barbaric poisoning rat traps that caused this, to hell with the consequences. My sweet stripey chicken was one of my first and I loved her...i know a vet who called them 'disposable" . isn't it crazy that you see chicken parts wrapped in cellophane in a store with no connection to the bird that was?
It is humbling to witness this moment you share Tara, 🤍. It feels like it impacted your life in a most profound way. Deep bow to that experience.
Now, As a fellow “scanner” ha! That is a funny term, but resonates with me nonetheless. I came to understand, maybe last year, learning as a “strength” that learners like the emotional charge when going from “chaos” or lack of understanding to “order” of some magnitude…it brought me so much peace because as others have pointed out societal “norms” really made me feel like not being “an expert” is failure…as a lover of learning it is hard to navigate this world not being “expert”. But, as time marches on another insight…the definition of artistry is bringing order to chaos so in effect are we all artists of our own lives? And so that has become how I look at these experiences in life as art🤍. Today is Thanksgiving in the states…thank you Tara for sharing with us🤍