Not every learning comes formally. We all have that one or two things we’re good at that we never actually learned. And thinking about it now, I actually have a couple. Starting with writing, back in secondary school, I used to write short stories a lot. Like, real cool stories that I’d share with my classmates or just keep in my notes. I don't know how I lost touch with that part of me. Maybe life happened, or I just got busy growing up. These days, I barely write stories, but at least I still write here on Hive. At least that still counts as something and it always reminds me of those times I used to write stories.
Then there's cooking. This one I consider my comfort skill and one most of us have. It's one of the skills I learn by at least 90% observing. There wasn't a special class I attended but I'm so good at it, no jokes. Cooking is one of those things I enjoy deeply, and it reflects in how I do it. At some point growing up, I seriously considered opening an eatery. I used to think about it now and then. It just feels like a something that I could do with my eyes closed.
But here’s the one that even surprised me recently. I’m a natural mimic. Like, impersonation is my hidden talent. I never really gave it much thought until I started catching myself mimicking people’s mannerisms, voice tones, and behaviors so accurately that people around me would just burst out laughing. You know how people are narrating an event and just use a flat tone? Not me. I will literally switch into character. You’d think you were watching a reenactment. I remember during family moments when someone misbehaved and my parents weren’t around to correct them. I’d step in and be like, “You know what dad would've said if he were here,” and then switch fully into his tone and words. It used to make everyone laugh, and sometimes even behave better, haha. Now I regret why I didn't join drama club in secondary school then, I would've kill it.
There’s also this thing my sister and I do. We have very similar voices, so I randomly pick up her calls midway, and the person on the line wouldn’t even notice the difference. We've pranked a lot of people with this, our cousins, even our older siblings. And they always fall for it every single time. It always takes a moment before they catch on. Now that I think of it, maybe I should find a way to monetize this skill o. No time to waste time in this economy. Maybe voice acting? We'll see. But for now, I’m just enjoying the fun of being that person who can randomly switch personalities and mimic people just because I can.
Anyway, these skills weren’t things I sat down to "learn." You don’t always need a formal classroom to be good at something. Sometimes, you just need to notice the little things you naturally enjoy doing, and keep doing them.
