Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

What can you not do, but wish you could, that most people seem to enjoy doing?

159 replies

omgitchiness · 14/03/2025 19:37

Something that doesn't really affect your life but you feel it would enhance your life.
Mine is swimming. I can kind of do it, but only for a short length, I don't enjoy it as it's such an effort to go a short way.

What about you?

OP posts:
TumbledTussocks · 14/03/2025 23:05

Yoga. I get so irritated and find it so boring. There was 1 class I loved but the instructor went on to do other things.

Enko · 14/03/2025 23:09

Enjoy exercise I just never have. I make myself do it as I'm overweight but I dont enjoy it nor do I feel great after just tired.

Enko · 14/03/2025 23:10

Also going to add going for a walk after eating a big meal. I feel so sick when forced to do so. Like I'm about to throw up. As I got older I just started refusing and I don't go when others do. Oddly I don't mind walking at other times just not within 3 hours of eating a big meal.

tillyandmilly · 14/03/2025 23:18

Drive a car - tried but couldn’t get the hang of the gears - the anxiety and nerves got in the way - too late now mid 50’s

DrCoconut · 14/03/2025 23:21

Swim and ride a bike properly. i never really learned growing up. People look at me as if I'm mad when i say i failed cycling proficiency.

hoodiemassive · 14/03/2025 23:24

Enjoy sightseeing.

Cynic17 · 14/03/2025 23:26

Cook.
Ride a bike.
Play the piano.

hoodiemassive · 14/03/2025 23:29

Actually, scratch that, I will never wish to enjoy sightseeing, it's too boring.

Instead I'd like to be able to pull stunts on a bmx.

selffellatingouroborosofhate · 14/03/2025 23:43

Wear eye makeup. I have hooded eyes and the crease turns eyeshadow into a mess.

Bellavida99 · 14/03/2025 23:49

Running. A young guy ran past me today when I was walking the dog. It was so effortless and he was so far ahead within moments just a natural athlete. If I run my feet stomp along but he was barely touching the ground springing along with a long easy stride.

coxesorangepippin · 15/03/2025 00:51

I'm a crap swimmer too

Gardening - I have such good intentions, I just never realize how much work it takes. I just can't apply myself to it at all

GiddyRobin · 15/03/2025 01:02

Play an instrument! DH can play violin, cello, piano, woodwind instruments, some HARP (!!!), to name a few. The DC are (thankfully!) following in his footsteps, but I'd love to be coordinated enough to pick it up so easily!

Devianinc · 15/03/2025 01:43

qandatime · 14/03/2025 19:54

Knit or crochet, I’ve tried and tried and I can’t get it.

your not missing anything. I’ve done both and got very bored.

Squigglesandgiggles · 15/03/2025 02:07

I’d love to be able to draw/paint etc

Squigglesandgiggles · 15/03/2025 02:08

selffellatingouroborosofhate · 14/03/2025 23:43

Wear eye makeup. I have hooded eyes and the crease turns eyeshadow into a mess.

YouTube has fab hooded eye eyeshadow tutorials:)

WinterFoxes · 15/03/2025 02:21

Sing. I'd love to be able yo sing well enough to join in singing hymns or carols at church or to join a choir. But I just mouth the words.

piscofrisco · 15/03/2025 05:22

hair styling. I can straighten successfully but that’s about it

readingismycardio · 15/03/2025 05:28

Swimming and drawing!

sashh · 15/03/2025 05:40

Walking without pain.

Cakeandcheeseforever · 15/03/2025 05:52

tillyandmilly · 14/03/2025 23:18

Drive a car - tried but couldn’t get the hang of the gears - the anxiety and nerves got in the way - too late now mid 50’s

@tillyandmilly I’m the same - well I can drive and do now and again but don’t enjoy it at all and find it so stressful

RedOnyx · 15/03/2025 07:13

Run - even in primary school when I was relatively fit I came dead last in every race. I get out of breath really easily and I feel like my feet just clomp along.

Draw/paint - my daughter is forever asking me to draw random things for her and they're all barely recognisable. My art teacher in school told me in no uncertain terms not to take art as one of my options. My sister on the other hand was on track to get an A fir art A-level until she dropped out of sixth form.

Sing/play an instrument. I couldn't carry a tune in a bucket! Mind you, my partner is in several choirs yet my daughter insists it has to be me who sings her bedtime songs (Twinkle Twinkle mostly). "No - your can't sing dada. Mama has to do it!"

Have a conversation without feeling awkward/blurting out something ridiculous/getting tongue tied.

Related to the above: not care what people think of me. I'm always worried about people not liking me (based entirely on experience - many people have told me they don't like me), which makes me even more worried about saying the wrong thing and even less likely to just be able to have a normal conversation.

Sew, knit, crochet. My grandma makes my daughter the most amazing jumpers (and used to for my siblings and I as well). I'm in awe and wish I could produce anything even close. She tried to teach me to knit when I was about 7 but I only got as far as a scarf for my teddy bear. I feel like my fingers are too big and awkward for those kinds of activities.

Keep a plant alive. I've even managed to kill a cactus!

I can read, bake and speak fluent German so there's that. I really hope my child inherits her talents from her dad or other members of my family though since I don't have any to pass on!

BigDahliaFan · 15/03/2025 07:32

Singing. I’d love to be able to sing with confidence. A friend who really hasn’t got a great voice has joined a community choir and loves it. I just can’t bring myself to. I’ve even had lessons…

I don’t mind dancing badly and will. Throw myself on to a dance floor.

gardening, I love….the eternal pottering.

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 15/03/2025 07:45

RedOnyx · Today 07:13

Run - even in primary school when I was relatively fit I came dead last in every race. I get out of breath really easily and I feel like my feet just clomp along.

Don't let that stop you! I'm definitely a clomper and a plodder, loathed running at school, and get out of breath easily. When I started Couch to 5k years ago I was also really quite overweight. At first I'd be red as a beetroot and panting and coughing for hours after even doing a bit of run-walk-run. I ended up doing half marathon distances!

omgitchiness · 15/03/2025 13:30

So glad I'm not the only one!

Have any of you learnt to do, and enjoy, something that you previously couldn't do?

OP posts:
thenightsky · 15/03/2025 15:47

Cakeandponies · 14/03/2025 21:46

I wish I could enjoy coffee, I'm so jealous of people going into Costa and ordering a frappe latte hazelnut drink thing. Sadly just the smell makes me want to hurl, I only like tea and can't find it in myself to pay £6 odd for something I can make for peanuts myself. But seeing people walking out with the cups makes me wish I could join them!

I'm the same. I can't tolerate the smell of coffee. To me its like walking into a room full of ciggie smoke.