The joy of being an ADULT BEGINNER
Fairlady|September/October 2022
When was the last time you learnt an entirely new skill? Learning something new has a number of benefits that go way beyond the thing itself.
LIESL ROBERTSON
The joy of being an ADULT BEGINNER

AT the outset of the book Beginners: The Joy and Transformative Power of Lifelong Learning by Tom Vanderbilt, he writes about facing off against an opponent in a chess tournament. 'I peered at him with what I hoped looked like remorseless pity. I was trying to project as much feral menace as one could while sitting in a library chair.'

While Tom is sizing up his faceless nemesis, looking for chinks in his armour, his adversary seems unaware of his intense scrutiny, appearing faintly bored and glancing around the room. 'Could I, through tactical finesse, and the withering power of my merciless gaze, slowly dismantle the core of his being?' he wonders.

The next moment, a woman appears at his opponent's side, hands him a small carton of chocolate milk and plants a kiss on his head. Ryan, as it turns out, is 8 years old - and 'with admirable composure, and an occasional sniffle, he dispatched me somewhere after the thirtieth move'. Checkmate.

This little scene sets Tom up for what will be a common thread in Beginners: that we tend to think of learning as something reserved for the young. As the parent of a young girl, Tom started to notice a recurring theme at his daughter's extramural classes: while the kids were engaged and learning new concepts and skills, the parents stood on the sidelines, peering at their smartphones.

The phrase 'adult beginner', he says, 'has an air of gentle pity': 'It implies the learning of something that you should have perhaps already learned.' While kids are free to try out any number of activities (while we cheer them on, fail or flourish), we as adults are a lot more reluctant. We're afraid of looking and feeling foolish, so we hardly ever dare to try our hand at something new.

Esta historia es de la edición September/October 2022 de Fairlady.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición September/October 2022 de Fairlady.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE FAIRLADYVer todo
'DESIRE IS NOT WHAT MATTERS'
Fairlady

'DESIRE IS NOT WHAT MATTERS'

Emily Nagoski wrote the book on women and desire - literally. And then her own sex life dried up. Here's what a prolonged sex drought (and a load of research) taught her about maintaining intimacy in a long-term relationship.

time-read
9 minutos  |
July/August 2024
'We have to tell HARD STORIES'
Fairlady

'We have to tell HARD STORIES'

Theatre director and playwright Yaël Farber is spending time in South Africa after her critically acclaimed run of King Lear at the Almeida Theatre in London. We chatted to her about the importance of the pursuit of truth.

time-read
6 minutos  |
July/August 2024
THE WHY, THE WHICH & the wardrobe
Fairlady

THE WHY, THE WHICH & the wardrobe

We really got into it this month! Read on for more on the allure of a loosey-goosey jumpsuit, vintage-hunting and jingle-jangling jewellery, the best places to find quality African design and short-girl styling tips.

time-read
10+ minutos  |
July/August 2024
LIFT your GAME
Fairlady

LIFT your GAME

Thought weightlifting was just for bodybuilders and powerlifters? Not so. In fact, 'lifting heavy shit' may be the secret to longevity, hormone regulation and mood for women through perimenopause and beyond.

time-read
8 minutos  |
July/August 2024
TREATMENT PLAN ON YOUR MARKS
Fairlady

TREATMENT PLAN ON YOUR MARKS

Armed with a six-month programme from Dr Nerina Wilkinson + Associates, Jennifer Morin set about tackling her sun damage and melasma.

time-read
8 minutos  |
July/August 2024
PLAYING YOUR CARDS RIGHT
Fairlady

PLAYING YOUR CARDS RIGHT

Here's how to get the most out of loyalty cards.

time-read
5 minutos  |
July/August 2024
BIG SKY Country
Fairlady

BIG SKY Country

Namibia. Twelve friends, five vehicles, 4000 km, thirteen days. Eight punctures, one angle grinder. One martial eagle, one full moon, one ghost town. Plenty of top-quality braais, maybe not quite enough oysters... and the best time ever.

time-read
9 minutos  |
July/August 2024
IS YOUR HOME MAKING YOU SICK?
Fairlady

IS YOUR HOME MAKING YOU SICK?

Leaks, damp and poor ventilation in old or poorly built new homes are being fingered for a growing health concern: mould.

time-read
7 minutos  |
July/August 2024
HOW TO REALLY GET TO KNOW SOMEONE
Fairlady

HOW TO REALLY GET TO KNOW SOMEONE

The Korean word 'nunchi' describes 'the ability to be sensitive to other people's moods and thoughts'. It's an underrated skill that we seem to have lost.

time-read
9 minutos  |
July/August 2024
How to write a memoir
Fairlady

How to write a memoir

Whether you want to share your experiences and insights with the world, leave a legacy or track pivotal experiences for yourself, writing your memoir can be a grand and worthwhile adventure. Here's some advice on how and where to begin.

time-read
7 minutos  |
July/August 2024