Second Nature for Dummies

Second Nature is a phrase that we use to describe something that comes so naturally to us, almost as if it were our own natural instinct. Have you ever seen a bird flying or a fish swimming effortlessly? That's like second nature to them! It's something they do without even thinking about it. Well, when we say that something is "second nature" to us, it means that it comes just as easily and naturally to us as flying does to a bird or swimming does to a fish.

Let me give you an example to help you understand even better. Imagine you have been playing a musical instrument for many years, like the piano. At first, when you started learning, it was difficult, right? You had to think about each note, each finger movement, and it took a lot of concentration. But as you kept practicing, playing the piano became easier and easier. Eventually, you reached a point where you could play a beautiful piece of music without even thinking about which keys to press or how to read the notes. It became second nature to you because you had practiced so much that your fingers knew exactly what to do on their own, without you having to consciously think about it.

In everyday life, we also have things that become second nature to us. For example, tying your shoelaces. When you were younger, it might have been challenging to tie the knots properly. But after practicing over and over again, it became second nature to you. Now you can tie your shoes without even looking, and you can do it quickly and effortlessly. It's become such a familiar action that you don't even have to consciously think about it anymore.

So, when we say something is second nature to us, it means it's something we've become so good at or so used to, that we can do it automatically, without even having to think about it. It's like a habit that we've formed through repetition and practice. It's a part of us, just like swimming is a part of a fish or flying is a part of a bird.