Your Ears Are Like A Donkey's Back

That's what my piano teacher Mr. Clark would say about learning to like new music.

It's humbling to recognize that training for animals is not all that different from the training that gives us humans habits and skills.  Repetition is the mother of skill, whether you're training your dog, or learning your scales.

A commonly quipped rule of thumb is that it takes 21 days to learn to like something or form a habit.  I heard this type of reasoning used by Sesame Street characters to encourage kids to try new foods.  Try it, you might like it! And then, try it again.  Give it time!

 When it comes to music, our ears work like our tongues.  We might not like sushi or reggae at first, but with time, our body responds less and less in opposition to it.  All five of our senses are remarkably adaptable.   A new sound will  cause an excited reaction, either positive or negative.  It's up to you whether you avoid the sound so you continue to dislike it, or get used to and eventually enjoy it.  You decide what your ears like and what they don't.

If you swat the donkey enough times, eventually it moves.  If you listen to it enough times, eventually, you will like it.

Learning to love good things is a lifelong pleasure and gift from God.

"He that has never traveled thinks that his mother is the only good cook in the world."(Kenya)