Unfortunately, some life skills (burping, skipping rocks, spitting) aren't universal

I can't spit.

Oh, sure, I can project saliva from my mouth, but not in a way that consistently clears my chin. It's a "skill" I lack (and which I lamented early in life, attributing it to the fact that I had only sisters and that my dad didn't spit).

Spitting is a taken-for-granted life skill by those who have such abilities.

Does it matter? Not really. But many (most?) of us go through life having at least one or two things that others do easily and we can't.

I'm not talking about playing a guitar or doing math in our head or being able to touch a basketball rim. I'm talking about basic life skills that we take for granted.

Here are eight of them:

8. Snapping fingers. How hard is this? Well, maybe answer this: How would you describe how to snap fingers to someone who can't? "Just rub your thumb and a finger together quickly?" Something else? (Note: I've largely lost this ability as arthritis has sapped my knuckles, which is pathetic. How hard is it to snap? Fairly hard these days).

7. Raising a single eyebrow. This was highlighted 20 years ago by The Rock and indicates disbelief or machismo – I think. It's easy if you know how to do it, (I do). It's impossible if you don't know how to do it (Mrs. Brad doesn't. Her efforts to do so result in her screwing up her face and both eyebrows raising the same).

6. Skipping rocks. I guess this is an athletic achievement, but there are people who can throw a ball hard who can't skip rocks and there are others who can barely throw, but can skip rocks. Again, how would you describe how to do this? "Just bounce the rock across the surface of the water?" Easier said than done, apparently.

5. Rolling your tongue. The only thing I remember from my biology class in college was that genetics determine whether you can make a tunnel of sorts with your tongue. Oh, I remember another thing: When the professor said that, everyone in the room tried to roll their tongue.

4. Loud whistling. The ability to quickly whistle loudly to get attention is admirable (and irritating), but not automatic. Many of us have tried to whistle loudly, only to have a meek whistle escape our lips. That's embarrassing.

3. Cracking knuckles. I can't do this. I've never have been able to do this, while my friends confidently pop their knuckles and look smug. Or that's my interpretation of them.

2. Burping. The stereotype persists of the dumb college-age guy belching on command (maybe to a song as his friends laugh? Maybe with an incredible lack of self-awareness?). But we all burp – unless you don't know how. I've been able to burp since early elementary school, but I couldn't tell you how to do it.

1. Spitting. The ability to be cool and spit isn't as important as in cowboy days (I can't imagine surviving in the Wild West without being to spit) but from experience, I can tell you that rolling with your 13-year-old friends and having spit trickle down your chin isn't great.

The fact that I can't do two of the top three items on my list proves the Rolling Stones were right: You can't always get what you want (spitting, cracking knuckles) but if you try sometime, you just might find you get what you need (rolling your tongue, burping, raising a single eyebrow).

It's a snap (unless you can't do that).

Reach Brad Stanhope at bradstanhope@outlook.com.