---------------------------------------- sprezzatura October 18th, 2018 ---------------------------------------- Castiglione wrote The Book of the Courtier between 1508 and 1528. It's a fantastic read, if you've never tried it before. In the book he introduces a newly created word: sprezzatura, defined as - "I have found quite a universal rule which in this matter seems to me valid above all other, and in all human affairs whether in word or deed: and that is to avoid affectation in every way possible as though it were some rough and dangerous reef; and (to pronounce a new word perhaps) to practice in all things a certain sprezzatura [nonchalance], so as to conceal all art and make whatever is done or said appear to be without effort and almost without any thought about it." It defined the ultimate goal of the courtiers at the court of Urbino. Look amazing at everything without trying. Ever since reading the book in high school that has been my personal motto. Even mentioning it "out loud" here in gopher undermines the effort somewhat. Talking about trying to be awesome at everything and seem effortless ... you get where I'm going with this. Anyway, I wanted to mention it for two reasons: 1) When I was thinking of a show for anonradio, my first idea centered around sprezzatura, but I couldn't come up with a way to make it a thing without also completely destroying that thing. It's tricky! Try it in your head. 2) Some people these days are all too eager to "own" their failings. There's a pride in being bad at stuff. It's probably a generational thing. Showing vulnerability is cool as shit, or something. I'm drunk and an old man when it comes to this stuff. I'm of the opinion that if you can be a total badass at every fucking thing, then you should be a badass at every fucking thing. If you're a badass at 90% of the things, then focus and fix that last 10% in the quiet of your bedroom until you can be a rockstar there too. That's it. The whole point of this was to tell you all to go be badass at everything. Not good at something? Don't tell me about it. Go fix it. No.. don't fix it, master it. Master the heck out of that thing and then do it routinely as if it's no big deal.