acumen [uh-kyoo-muhn]

keen insight; shrewdness; Quickness, accuracy, and keenness of judgment or insight

Synonyms include: astuteness, awareness, discernment, comprehension

With my crazy good longterm memory, I remember the first time I learned what acumen meant. I was a seventh grader and it was one of our vocabulary words. It SO doesn't sound like what it is, I thought to myself; and though we had to use it in a sentence for homework, I never fully grasped the proper use of this word in everyday conversation...but I get it now.

Well, I TRY to get it. I mean, I TRY to have it. Unfortunately, having acumen with something means you don't have to try, and there isn't very much in this life that doesn't require some form of effort.

Writing...photography...I would LOVE to say I was born to be great at it...but that's SO not the case. I have an unbelievably long way to go before I can even consider myself to be a competent writer, and lately, a competent photographer. My desire to do so is aided not by acumen, but by effort. There are days when I can't seem to complete a simple thought on paper, and days when every photo I take seems to be over or under exposed. But I'm hoping that the more I practice, the greater my chances of developing that acumen someday.

Practice (will eventually) make perfect...