Good for you! And good for you for realizing that 1) you like concrete things, 2) you can learn to do something even if it's frustrating.

I had a major revelation a few years ago when my best friend said, regarding a database software program I was exasperated with, "Oh yeah, that really has a high learning curve."

It wasn't me! Wow! It was hard for other people too. But if I stuck with it, stuck with it, stuck with it, eventually I'd "suddenly" be there, understanding it.

It's also been a revelation that there are skills you develop. This could sound like a no brainer, but when I was younger I thought that you were either good at something or not (all or nothing thinking, my friends) and if you couldn't do it, well, I just gave up.

So good for you - getting this. And for not being hard on yourself because your friend is picking it up more quickly. You get a gold star!