Typing lessons

[rafiwinters]

I've been trying to improve my typing speed, because I'm just starting to look for a job, and a mere 28 words per minute isn't going to help. I have one of those programs (Mavis Beacon) that teaches you typing, and have started back more or less at the very beginning. I've discovered that I do terribly with just typing the letters and "letter combinations" ("ads dsk" and so forth and so on) but much better with actual words. My problem is I get nervous and start looking at the keyboard, and that rather slows me down, whereas I probably do know where all the keys really are, I just haven't practiced enough in an environment where I have to get it right. In addition to work, speedier typing would help me in my writing, not having to go back and retype whole words because I goofed on one letter near the beginning. There's got to be some way to save on keystrokes and therefore time, which is sort of the point. Does anyone have any advice? The program says to slow down and type accurately rather than quickly until you're sure of what you're doing, which I'll start to do, but then I get impatient... *sigh*

Comments

[selvatica.livejournal.com]

Welcome new friend! The only advice I think is to be patient and try to forget everything that you know already (can be difficult).
I think I type more than 28 words per minute, but I have to look at the keyboard to do it :)

[she-of-emeralds.livejournal.com]

Thanks--I can use all the help I can get--I have vowed for the next month to spend at least 15 minutes/day doing the typing lessons and using proper typing techniques. (Already made three mistakes spelling that word... *sigh*).

Hello gracewillow

[mollys-home.livejournal.com]

This is cut and paste of the email letter I sent to my oldest friend Lois's daughter. I speak about it in my last comment in our mutual community...

Dear Danielle,

I am hoping that this finds you well. I know you must be going through an emotional time trying to deal with and accept the passing of your mother. Every time I think of her I find myself saying the same things I told myself when my brother Jimmie died.

I will speak in the single third person. The thought that always pops into my mind when I think of his exiting is that he is no longer in pain: emotional or physical. He missed out on being here as his daughters grew from ages 6 & 8 to today's 30 & 28 along with so much else. But I honestly believe there is a better life after this one and I hope that is your belief too. Your mother is in a place far more magnificent than we mere mortals are capable of even imagining. When I think of that I smile for her, for my brother, for all who have gone before us.

Of course I do think of the potential that was here if help was sought. But thinking of that is fruitless and brings no comfort and changes nothing. We are all fragile and the mind is the most fragile thing of all when it meets up with extra turmoil, hurdles.

Some say taking one's life is the "coward's way out" and I hope you do not believe that. Living with a suicidal father for all my life I can honestly say it is not a coward who speaks of exiting. It is a person with so much pain inside that they view no other way around the problem. They didn't make a choice. In their reality, there was no other choice. To take the only step you see before you is NOT cowardice.
The same goes for the attitude of "How could she do this to her family?". If the mind tells you there is no other way out and things will never change, the person is not being selfish in exiting. They are taking the only step they see. Staying on this earth is not an option in their mind. I am not trying to sound preachy. I just know the torment the survivors can go through and wanted to point out to you what helped me deal with the loss of my sweet, dear brother at 37. He is with my mother and father and our other brothers, aunts & uncles. And God, being a Loving Parent who knows the conditioning and the weaknesses of the human mind can only forgive and embrace. Isn't hat a beautiful picture?

Love,
maggie

[tardisblue.livejournal.com]

You know what really helped me to type faster? Using MSN messenger. Back when I first started highschool, my typing was horrendous and it was quite embarassing during our computer class when we had to do typing tests and such. I even bought a typing program to help me out (didn't really help me much, but that's just me!). But once I started using MSN and talking to my friends that way, I got speedier and a lot more comfortable wtih it. And now I type quite well!