Thanks manXcat, great post. I decided at the very young age of 62 to learn to play guitar. I had a guitar when I was a kid and I banged around on it but I was involved in sports and I got no encouragement from my parents to pursue the guitar, so 50 years passed by. I'm not sorry for not learning guitar years ago, that's just wasted energy and feeling sorry won't change the fact. As an older beginner I have struggled with some of the more elementary aspects of playing. I get frustrated on a regular basis. However, when I get those feelings I simply put my guitar away for a while, and get my mind off of what ever it is that's causing my frustration. Later on or maybe the next day I pick up my gutiar as get back at it. I find that this "method" allows me to recharge and refocus. It's amazing (at least for me) how much progess I make when I'm not feeling sorry for myself or frustrated.