Natural or Learned?

Looking for a place to curl up and write, wish I had these mad skills!

Orangutan builds hammock

All joking aside this Orangutan building a hammock blows my mind. Is this instinctual or learned/observed ? No doubt this Orangutan knows exactly what she wants and has done it before.

This video definitely makes me question the lack of gusto I have for building with my hands. I do consider my hands finely tuned instruments for massage and I do not NEED my eyes when giving a massage, my hands know what to do – confidently. When I first started massage people said I was a natural. I was that little kid walking on my Dad’s back and rubbing people’s shoulders, however after 15 years in massage there are aspects that feel much different due to training and experiences and then aspects that just feel completely natural.

I am not a jack of all trades, in fact in other subject matter… outside of massage, yoga, technology, helping people feel better etc…I feel completely lost. I wonder if it’s a lack of muscle memory since my hands have not repeatedly produced art or constructed my ideas or if it is a lack of natural ability?

Which came first, was it the child who’s first crayon scribblings were museum worthy and whose natural ability fueled their interest and passion to create truly beautiful art ? Or if child B continued to scribble even if not naturally gifted, still attempted over and over creating that muscle memory… how would their ability, their expression of art, their skills, compare after 20 years?

If you hadn’t guessed I’m the adult that can’t draw stick figures…you’d think I had my eyes closed anytime pen comes to paper. I was also the child who got frustrated with myself since my mom could do incredible art and I felt I should have some of that ability. I didn’t have the patience with myself to allow myself to acquire the skill or even the patience and acceptance I may have for someone else that wasn’t naturally gifted in art. Now that I have a child of my own; I question these things.

I want him to be able to express himself freely, without frustration and accept whatever he makes. I don’t want to shy away from art for my own reasons, I’d really like to play along side, and perhaps we can learn together.

Skyler’s Art

Skyler’s Art

Skyler’s Art

I would love to hear some experiences of being naturally gifted at something versus learning skills. Or perhaps the secret is to have some natural affinity and then perfecting your skills through practice? I’d especially love to hear from those who felt they were bad at something but through perseverance are now quite skilled. And if you are an orangutan I’d love to hear your weigh in too. Do you come from a family of hammock hangers? Or did you have a need and take matters into your own hands?