While home over Christmas Break, I made a "foolish" purchase. I used some Christmas money to buy a guitar. With a chord book and some sheet music, I figured in no time at all I would be able to imitate my favorite stars I watch intently on MTV and CMT. They all easily strum away at the instrument, and I thought I too could quickly pick up the talent.

It didn't take me long to figure out that playing guitar is harder than it looks. Just getting my fingers to stretch across the different strings was difficult enough, and then added to that, I had to strum the thing. It was nearly impossible! I couldn't even figure out whether to strum just up or up and down.

The more I thought about this, I recalled several other times where things were harder than they looked. Example No. 2: the wonderful Nordic Track cross country skiing machine.

How many have seen the 75-year-old man in the commercial honkin' on — I mean, he's flying, smiling and having a grand ol' time. And yet, when I step on there I can barely make my arms and feet move at the same time much less go at a decent pace.

Honestly, how many people have ever tried the machine? I do not understand how the commercial manages to make it look so fun, easy and appealing.

My final example is quite embarrassing. I assume by now everyone has taken a PE class while in college. At Notre Dame, we have the opportunity to choose from a variety of different sports.

Last year, I decided that it would be good for me to take an ice skating class; the one time I had tried, I had a small bit of difficulty. I figured by the end of the rotation I'd be turning triple axles like Nancy Kerrigan, Tara Lipinski and Kristi Yamaguchi.

The first day of class I strapped on my skates and headed out on the rink. I knew I was not gifted on the ice so I stayed close to the wall until the teacher called us to begin with the basics.

"OK class," she said. "To warm up everyone skate across the rink."

Quite easily, my entire class flew over to the wall on the other side. I began my attempt at trying to waddle across the rink and the instructor yelled out, "YOU! Get back on the wall. I can't be responsible for someone getting hurt out here!"

The entire class was now on the other side of the rink, the teacher stood in the middle and everyone looked at me trying to get back to the wall. I have never been more embarrassed.

I guess ice skating falls into the same ranks as the guitar and Nordic Track. Some people are blessed with these talents and for some of us, these activities are way harder than they look.

• Harder than it looks