« Lifelong Learning | Main | Senior Moments »
February 15, 2006
Follow-up to Life Long Learning
I move around in my topics about learning because learning takes place at any age. Today I was going to talk about preschoolers, but I got an interesting comment from my entry the other day about my going to a weekend workshop so I changed my mind. Thank you Jack for your comments.
I don't talk about my age much since I don't want to go there. Let's just say I'm close to retirement age and my kids are out of the nest. They, of course, got older but I didn't age as fast as they grew up. It's a strange phenomenon that often seems to occur in woman more often than men.
That being said, I can't imagine, at whatever age, not wanting to learn new things. I've just written off for a catalogue from University of San Francisco. It seems they have a wonderful creative writing course. What fun.
I hold an elected position as an educator, and I'm not running again next term. For the first time in many years, maybe since early college days, I'm looking at learning and doing and creating whatever I want to and pretty much when I want to. The idea of learning how to play the piano, re-learning how to play golf, and practicing the art of writing are all intriguing to me.
I've learned for years the craft of education from being a teacher's aide all the way to being a superintendent of schools. I love the craft and I've loved the experience. Now it's time to learn more and expand the horizons. Writing, teaching, starting a business, building a building, playing the piano, going to school because I want to are all within the realm of possiblity and reach. Why not?
The only reason why not is that we tell ourselves no. A friend recently said she liked to go to Africa to help but she was too old. Another said she's like to live at the ocean, but it was too expensive. We limit oursleves before we even start.
I've dreamed of going to Europe off and on for years. Last year I got my passpost, just in case. In August I'm going to Oxford, England for a conference. With any luck I'll be presenting a paper.
Our limits are in our head. Learning starts there. Learn first to believe you can...(fill in the blank). You can do whatever it is you believe you can. Want to learn to ride a bike, believe it and you will. Want to learn calculus, believe it and you will. Want to learn about a county, believe it and you will be learning it first hand.
Get rid of the limits. There are no limits of age, sex, race, language, or disability when it come to believing and learning. It starts with your thinking.
Jack's a student at 59. So am I. So can you. Start by believing you can.
Posted by Dr Joni at February 15, 2006 07:34 AM
Comments
Dr. Joni, I don't think it's possible for me to agree with you more!!! Especially that part about telling ourselves, no. We do that a lot and it's so self-limiting. I've been going with yes more since 50 and I'm definately happier for it.
Education has been a big part of my "yes" plan, same for my adult daughter who is going for a career change at 35.
Maybe this part is a bit off track, but it strikes me funny that I now love the Discovery Channel, Science Channel and History Channel, but in high school these subjects put me to sleep. Since crossing over 50, I've also discovered I enjoy hanging out at Barnes and Noble reading...anything! Now that's really weird for me, but weird in a good way! lol
I was going to sign up for a gym membership next month, but I'm going to do it today. You've motivated me!
Posted by: Jack lee at February 15, 2006 10:30 AM
Enjoy the gym and I hope I run into you at Barnes and Nobel, one of my favorite hangouts.
Joni
Posted by: Joni at February 17, 2006 06:21 PM