The reason I can't speak Spanish.
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Hola! Mi nombre es Mateo.
Not a bad start. But starting isn’t the reason for why I can’t speak a lot more Spanish than a few awkwardly strung together sentences that might possibly help in a time of need, such as, Donde esta el baño? Where is the bathroom.
I’ve started many times. I get all excited, re-download the Duolingo app, select the Spanish course and start! It does feel awesome to learn a new language. I’m sure many of people have experienced this excitement.
But invariably the excitement goes, the motivation diminishes and I miss one day, which becomes two and you know how the story goes. Until six-months later when I feel motivated and excited again! And so the cycle repeats.
The reason I cannot speak more Spanish, or hold a conversation with my hispanic brother-in-laws or my fluent speaking sister-in-laws is not because I am incapable or defective. The reason comes down to just one word… Consistency
I am not consistent.
My short bursts of activity followed by long gaps of inactivity do not increase or enhance my ability to learn and retain the Spanish language. It isn’t a lack of money, or resources, Duolingo is free. Translator apps are free. It isn’t a matter of time either. 10-minutes each day is nothing! I spend more than that checking and rechecking my emails every day, an exercise that yields no benefit!
The sole reason I cannot speak more Spanish than I do is because I have been inconsistent. I am beginning to believe that inconsistency is single-handedly the biggest factor as to why people never achieve greatness, or accomplish their goals, dreams and aspirations.
We show up for the first few weeks, and when we don’t see immediate results, we get discouraged, convince ourselves it was foolish to even try and so we stop showing up, we stop taking the small every day steps. We stop believing in the process.
Book Club
Starting February 1 I am starting an online book club where we will read one non-fiction book each month and participate in weekly online discussion threads where we can share our favorite parts, insights and ideas for application. Hope to see you there! You can view the reading schedule below, to participate in the weekly discussions, you’ll need to become a paid subscriber. Thank you for supporting me as an independent writer and thinker.
