In the area of literature, from academic study and personal taste, I always preferred contemporary. Medieval, Rennaissance (which most people know as Shakespearean), Augustan (18th century), Victorian and Romantics (Yeats, Blake), only helped me gain cultural appreciation of English lit. Otherwise I found it abit of slog to read the stuff.

All of the above literary knowledge actually enhances my understanding when I look at visual art from those areas as well. Otherwise I wouldn't have been so drawn artistically to visit those museums, galleries...it is one big complete pkg. of Western civilization appreciation for me.

Zoom Zoom- Another cyclist (male) father of 2 teen boys, also voiced the same annoyance/concern of lack of social skills.

I was sort of like that child, except I was raised in a big family so one is forced to acquire social skills anyway .. If the child already has 1-2 good buddy friends, that's at least a good sign.

Children with intellectual interior life (in their brain) who appear lonely, in my opinion, do have great potential...well to become well-rounded. It's easier in my opinion to take a slightly introspective child and help them become more "socialable" because they may already be aware of certain gifts/skills that they can share/use more broadly.

So I was the child /teen bookworm, art dabbler and seamstress at that time. I had lots of time to think about what I was/wasn't capable of and explore it.

Of course cycling is a bit solitary too.