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@ trax
2024-08-11 14:21:48
I read an interesting post on stacker news, with the following quote:
> Writing teaches you to develop the ability to understand
And I instantly liked it, and want to try working on it. I mean, who wouldn't want to develop the ability to understand?
I've always been better in written form of communication - especially when it comes to work (software engineering) - thinking through tickets, compiling my thoughts, and writing them all down was always a preferred method for me.
On the other hand, I've always had issues with oral communication - be it in english (which I use for work), or my native language. I've always had an issue with simply talking to people. In large majority of cases, I have nothing to add to the conversation that I find useful (and now re-reading this - I think it's something to focus on a bit more another time - "that I find useful" bit).
Listening, on the other hand, is not a problem. I've been a trash can for people to vent out, and release their problems for years - someone that can listen, and sometimes provide something of value back - but mostly to listen. People don't need advice, in large majority of cases. Simply listening, and saying something from time to time seems to be enough. I don't know. Maybe I'm not good at listening as well, and this is false thinking from my end as well. It usually does not bother me, since I'm not good at talking, but it gets tiring quickly. There's only so much of other peoples problems you can listen to, without burning out.
I have a couple of friends (maybe one, when I think about it) that asks me things, and tries to hear my thoughts. I can feel some pressure when talking to him at times - also something to meditate on.
Back to writing - the quote resonates very well, and I hope it proves to be useful. Probably more than writing itself, the thing that improves your thinking or "the ability to understand" are the things you write about.
I would like to use this, and work through some of the things from my life - things I have experience in, or things that come to mind. It would be interesting to use this as a way to understand something new - something I'm not familiar with and even something I dread of looking into (kind of like workout, and Bulgarian split squats).
I hope to be back soon, and continue this process. I'd like to have a list of topics/interests somewhere, but maybe winging it is also a nice approach - until some form of habit is formed.