Does it hurt to try?

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In an ongoing comment conversation, the conclusion was given.  Yes, it does hurt to try.  Why?

There are many reasons, and angles, involved with answering the why of it.  It hurts to start.  It's one more, of hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands, of new things any specific individual has had to learn, sometimes to competent mastery.  Some of those things seem simple now, such as pronouncing, or spelling, names... tying shoe laces... even washing properly.  Things we do every day, or as if every day events, without a thought, but things that took us great pains to finally get right, and the be able to repeat without a thought.  One more new thing seems fine, but it's not.  Especially since many of us are at the point where a new thing, such as a language, or mechanically repairing an engine, are vast topics.  Nothing can be learned from a book.  A book, or many, can help in the learning process, but more a a crutch than even the main driver of the education.  Something to help you remember what you have been shown. 

Beyond complexity, and the notion of learning something new... again... there is the price.  Nothing is free.  Taking, at a minimum, time, effort, concentration, and quite often serious coin even if just for practice materials (or mistakes).  Learning is very expensive.  Even more, it requires a literal changing of the mind.  I don't think people appreciate that aspect as much as they should.  Many don't see it.  In engineering school, I realized deeply and personally what was being required.  And it did cause me some serious personal evaluations.  Most of the other students were unaware of the changes to mind, and even personality, that were taking place.  Some of it would be temporary, some of it is forever.

After those things, there is the possibility of facing defeat.  Not all people can learn all things.  Most people cannot learn consciously.  They don't know what they know.  They don't know how far what they know will take them.  One of my difficulties in school was that I was quite reticent to learn what I did not know.  I aggravated some of my professors to no end by demanding that they explain what they were teaching.  I realized, after a time, that many of them do not know what they know.  On the flip side, and what shouldn't seem like a fear that might keep someone from learning, is success.  However, once you know something, or have learned it, you are expected to be able to function within that domain.  Your are responsible for, and to, that body of knowledge.  This one is hidden from many, but I saw it in my experiences with various sorts of education.  I chose specifically not to learn some things, or do some things, because of the expectations that went with it.  And not just in school.

Is that enough?  It is, to explain why many don't want to learn.  It is why people would rather buy food than make it, would rather buy over-price equipment than to figure out a more economical way.  It is difficult, and tedious, to learn some things and then carry them on, at first.  There are even other reasons.  I know several, that I can see, some I only suspect, and some I don't yet know.  I have spent my life trying to learn, and hitting personal, social, religious, and other reasons why to, or not to, learn things.  This list is the most common of them, for me.  I suspect they are more common in general, if not always known or understood. 

Once some things are mastered, the world really can become your oyster.  It is getting over that hump, getting the tools, and taking responsibility for the education and then function, that simply seems to much for many people.  So few people are passing these things on.  Lawyers and lawmakers are snubbing those who choose to master their world.  There is even social scorn heaped on those who attempt to work past the limits of their finances, or current capabilities.  And yet, time and again, it comes down to these people making the world work.  Nobody likes to be sidelined by the capacity of another, until their life depends on it.  And yet no one can be expected to save those who won't save themselves, or even try to bar the hard working from ensuring their success. 

Just some thoughts.  Not complete, but a jab at it.  If there is something you have been meaning to learn... especially something that has an economic or life purpose... gardening, welding, carpentry, even some forms of art like lead window making... go to it.  You might have to start small, and humble.  You might need to borrow the tools to start out, you might have to start with bought plants or even stick with them, but start with a very small garden.  You might have to surrender free time.  It will be a risk.  I guarantee you will have more failure, starting out, than successes.  Gird your loin and go in hot.  If a dead man can risk that dance, how much easier for you?  Get to it. 

Hmm... now to figure out the kitchen cart.  Bigger hammer!  :)