In my last blog post, “Everybody Everyday” I made the case for regular practice of new perspectives, behaviors, and practices. All new learners begin by just “going through the motions” and gradually become proficient through regular practice. I’ve personally gone to sleep many nights pondering a new concept or thinking about a new skill only to awaken the next morning with greater understanding. It seems as though our brains actively reflect on the day’s experiences while we sleep. Each day of practice that we miss is therefore a day void of that particular learning. It’s time lost that cannot be made up by cramming. I’m not offering proof here, only my own repeated experience.

In the case of my 7-year-old son’s guitar lessons, I reminded him of this: Practice makes perfect.

 …