OMG, it's not just me?!?! I feel so much better after reading this. I thought I was the only person in the world who never learned to work at things. In fact, until I was in my 20s, I never learned that I could learn things-- the hard way, I mean.
I always thought that either I understood something or I didn't, either I had a talent for something or not, and there was nothing I could do to change that. (Mind you, having depression doesn't help one's ability to persist in the face of failure either, but I also knew part of the problem was that I'd never had to /try/ in school, so I never learned how to study or practice things.) I have gotten better at it. I've even learned that I can improve things like my musical abilities. No luck yet with maths and spacial reasoning, but at least I no longer think it's impossible to improve.
no subject
I always thought that either I understood something or I didn't, either I had a talent for something or not, and there was nothing I could do to change that. (Mind you, having depression doesn't help one's ability to persist in the face of failure either, but I also knew part of the problem was that I'd never had to /try/ in school, so I never learned how to study or practice things.) I have gotten better at it. I've even learned that I can improve things like my musical abilities. No luck yet with maths and spacial reasoning, but at least I no longer think it's impossible to improve.