Life skills you've only picked up recently

[Captain-Giggles]

There are some things in life everyone is meant to be able to do apparantly. Most of these skills are picked up early on in life and carried throughout, and to hear of someone without one of these skills is just outrageous.

For example I'm 20 years old and I'm only starting to learn how to ride a bike. Despite my parents cycling places we were never taught, and every year that's gone by it's felt more and more embaressing to learn. But in the end it's a skill too useful to pass up.
On a smaller scale how to crack an egg. I didn't like the taste of eggs when I was younger so just like cycling I'm only getting into them now. You see it on TV and films and from your friends and family, the one firm smack off the side of the pan and the almost elegant crack of the egg as the shell parts in the middle leaving you with a picture perfect egg frying. Mine just sort of explode and slump down onto the pan in a garbled manner.

So escapists! What skills that everyone else seems to have or are supposedly "essential" to life are you nmissing?

 

[Dags90]

I don't know how to pump my own gas (petrol), despite driving for four years. I doubt it's particularly hard, but I'm not looking forward to the time when I have to actually get out of my car and figure it out.

 

[Zantos]

Sewing, I learned to sew when my favourite jeans got ripped last year and now I do all my clothing repairs and modifications. Next task, learning to use a sewing machine.

 

[DJ_DEnM]

How to snap.

My brother and my mother are the only people who can snap in my family, and I've always felt embarassed by that fact :/

 

[kebab4you]

I don't know how to pump my own gas (petrol), despite driving for four years. I doubt it's particularly hard, but I'm not looking forward to the time when I have to actually get out of my car and figure it out.

This aldo I did learn it this summer when I was alone in the city and couldn't drive home without tanking, went okey, had my mom on the phone just in case(Stop laughing! xD).

 

[Generic_Username]

Essential life skills I'm missing. Wow, this would take a while, although I think the main one's cooking. The only things I can make are eggs and microwave food.

 

[Grand_Arcana]

I only recently got my driver's license (granted, I knew how to drive, I just couldn't do it legally <_<)

Studying. I just learned how to study this spring. I never had to study; A's just come to me.

 

[neonsword13-ops]

Learning is more effective over a progressive period of time. Making us learn ten things in one day and then force us to take a test over it the next day? That's outrageous!

Damn you, mathematics teachers!

(P.S. OP, My sister loves your avatar.)

 

[Ham_authority95]

Social skills like initiating conversation are ones that I've learned only in the past 5 or so months.

How to format a letter(a REAL one, on paper).

How to endorse a check.

 

[the spud]

How to snap.

My brother and my mother are the only people who can snap in my family, and I've always felt embarassed by that fact :/

This. My fingers are just too baby smooth.

Also, the most complex thing I know how to cook is frozen pizza, and I still can't do the landry.

 

[triggrhappy94]

Self-Motivation.

I still want to learn cooking and basic auto-mechanics

 

[emeraldrafael]

I don't know how to pump my own gas (petrol), despite driving for four years. I doubt it's particularly hard, but I'm not looking forward to the time when I have to actually get out of my car and figure it out.

Its not too hard, and most gas station pumps where you have to insert a card to prepay will instruct you on it.

OT: yeah, basically this. I would always go to full service stations, until I actually sat down and looked at how much that cost me extra. Its not that I didnt know, but I was shown once and I didnt really pay attention, nor did I like the prospect of it.

 

[TakeyB0y2]

I'm only NOW breaking out of my social awkwardness... Unfortunately, I'm no longer going to school or any other related social setting (work doesn't really count) soooo not a lot of good that's doing me.

 

[chaosyoshimage]

I'm 19 and got my driver's license a week ago. So, there's that.

Nice to see a bunch of other people can't cook, do laundry, or ride a bike. The bike thing, well, my dad was overprotective about that. Everything else I'm horrendously lazy or have anxiety issues (Driving). Hey, but I can snap! Can't whistle though...

 

[anthony87]

I'm 21 and I only recently learned how to make some fucking fantastic mashed potatos and gravy.

 

[Kae]

For example I'm 20 years old and I'm only starting to learn how to ride a bike. Despite my parents cycling places we were never taught, and every year that's gone by it's felt more and more embaressing to learn. But in the end it's a skill too useful to pass up.

Yeah I know what you mean I didn't learn how to ride a bike until I was 15 and it was really weird because after trying thousands of times I just gave up on it and one day my friends were riding bikes on the school yard and I was really bored and they told me to ride it and of course I was ashamed to admit I didn't knew how to ride it so I tried it, crashed straight into a wall hit my head with it and I got up said I did it on purpose, and then tried again and I suddenly could do it, I don't know why or how but I suddenly could, it was one of the best days I had too much fun.

On another note the skill I'm just learning how to use is cooking, and I keep burning my hands, I mean seriously I suck at it the other day I dropped a pot full of hot beans on my feet, I'm not too good at it, oh and driving I'm like the worst driver ever, every time I try it I get distracted with something (like the pretty clouds) and almost crash into something after giving it much thought (and running over myself on an ATV) I've decided that it's probably a good idea to give up on driving as I have a feeling I will end up causing an accident and I don't want to hurt anybody.
Also I want to learn how to talk to people as my social skills are really lacking but I don't seem to be able to get past How are you doing? and then it goes into full awkward silence mode.

 

[Dags90]

Its not too hard, and most gas station pumps where you have to insert a card to prepay will instruct you on it.

OT: yeah, basically this. I would always go to full service stations, until I actually sat down and looked at how much that cost me extra. Its not that I didnt know, but I was shown once and I didnt really pay attention, nor did I like the prospect of it.

It doesn't cost me anything extra, because it's illegal in New Jersey to pump your own gas so it's full service all the time. I just don't want to be that guy sitting there carefully reading the instructions while wondering if other people are judging him.

I'm surprised how many people can't snap/whistle. I guess my brother wasn't so weird for not being able to do those things, I did teach him how to snap his fingers though.

 

[J_Monsterface]

i have a really hard time accepting that i should have to work for a living

ive always felt indignation at the idea that life comes at a price

i am only very recently starting to swallow that pill (although ive begrudgingly had a job for awhile)

sometimes i worry ill never accept it or really be happy knowing ill never be free from the constant threat of death

accepting it feels a lot like death (which i of course i have no real concept of, because i have no real life experience to speak of)

the anxiety alone is mind numbing

ps- i am not a child (at least physically)

 

[Dimitriov]

Hmmm. I can whistle, snap my fingers, tie my shoelaces properly, cook, vacuum, do laundry, pump gas, chop firewood, ride a bike, swim, mend clothes...

This is hard, I think I generally have all this stuff covered

 

[PleasantAsAHeadcrab]

Last month, I learned how to sew with a machine. 8D I made a skirt. I was physically forced to.
Also my mother's been tricking me into learning how to cook.
God, by the time my mother and neighbors are done with me, I'll be considered an ideal 1950's suburban housewife. Which might be my mum's intention, now that I think of it.