'You Learn by Living' Part 1 - Changing.

I'm not sure how many parts my first 'series' is going to be made up of, but I've decided it simply will not fit in to one post. The website I mentioned in this post led me to purchasing my new book. It's one of those that refreshes and challenges me each time I pick it up - so much so, I have begun taking notes on it and seemed to have folded down every single page as they all contain words that I want to hold on to. So, what is this mysterious book I hear you ask?

Look at it here - You Learn By Living by Eleanor Roosevelt. I knew relatively little about her before I first picked up this book but I've been learning more as I've read the examples she uses about her own life to back up her points.

Evolving

Her mindset is extremely similar to mine, first illustrated on the introduction pages to the book:

'None of us can afford to stop learning or to check our curiosity about new things, or to lose our humility in the face of new things.'

The idea of 'lifelong learning' was one of my favourite pieces of teaching at University. It really transformed the way I saw myself, and the way I lived my life. I've heard so many people say that the person you were at 18 is the person you will always be. I think that is absolute codswallop. If you seek knowledge, change and the broadening of your horizons then you will never stop evolving and growing as person, thus making you different and more mature. 

I truly believe that we can stand to learn something from every encounter we experience. This could be at work, at home, with friends, at school, in relationships or at college. It could be from a big mistake, a small one, or a success. We can always draw learning from our actions if we search hard enough for it. This type of learning requires looking deeply in to ourselves, and helps us to realise things we perhaps never knew. What are my fears, hopes, habits, desires? I will write more about this in part 2!

'There is no experience from which you can't learn something. When you stop learning, you stop living in any vital and meaningful sense. And the purpose of life, afterall is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.'

A lot of the time, we are afraid of making mistakes. We do everything we can to avoid and ignore them because they are not seen as a necessary part of life. For me, I tend to learn through action. I can't usually read a set of instructions and then set to work - I like to be shown how to do something, or I like to try it out myself. This approach might mean it takes a while, I might make more mistakes and have to try again - but that's how my brain works. Does it really matter how long it takes to get something right if each time we try, we learn something? The process of learning how to do something is as, if not more, important as the end product.

'We cannot shut the windows and pull down the shades, we cannot say, "I have learnt all I need to know, my opinions are fixed on everything. I refuse to change or to consider these new things." Not today. Not anymore.'

I love these words. They feel like soul food. I know so many people who cause me frustration because of this. Sometimes, those who think like this are younger than me - I find that a scary indictment. We cannot afford to think like this anymore! In a world that is changing and evolving so quickly, we cannot remain ourselves unchanging. This stops us from becoming relevant, and relatable to all kinds of people.

We need to hold on to our curiosity for learning, and for life. People are always saying to me that i'm nosey - but I disagree. I ask a lot of questions, I like to get my bearings when in a new environment, with new people or in a new place. I like to work out how I can fit, what makes people tick, what their opinions, passions, dreams are, who does what in the office etc. Mainly because I'm curious. I don't just want to turn up and know nothing about where I am or who I am with, I have this thirst for knowledge. That's what keeps me fresh and excited about life!

'If a child's curiosity is not fed, if his questions are not answered, he will stop asking questions. And then, by the time he is in his middle twenties, he will stop wondering about all the mysteries of his world. His curiosity will be dead.' 

This is one of my motivations for choosing youth work. Young people have so many questions. They are in a stage of trying to make sense of the world in which they have found themselves, and they want to find out what their part is, what can they offer? They need alsorts of people, from all walks of life to listen to their queries, their struggles, in an attempt to form themselves into adults who contribute to their society. We all need this, and well all need to hold onto our curiosity, our adventure for life and our willingness to learn and adapt. 

Much Love xxx