Every year, about this time of year, I enjoy helping my kids get ready for the new school year. As we shop together for pens and pencils, spiral notebooks, binders and other supplies, we cannot help but excitedly contemplate the possibilities for the learning year ahead.
This year, my 7 th grader – who can be heard singing Broadway musical scores in our house on any given day – can hardly wait to begin her first year of choir. And my 5 th grader, an aspiring math teacher, is especially enthusiastic about tackling yet another year filled with numbers and word problems.
On the other hand, my newly-minted 2 nd grader is set on reading her way through as many chapter books as possible in one school year; I suspect she’ll follow in her older sisters’ footsteps and read the American Girl series this year. My other two kids – a preschooler and a high school junior – are eager to begin a new year of learning as well.
But, truth be told, my kids are not the only ones who are excited about diving into a new year of learning. After all, my yearning to learn did not end the day I walked out of my last college class almost two decades ago. If anything, my love of learning has only grown in the years since my formal education ended. After all, there is so much of interest to learn about in this amazing and wondrous world. So, if you too are interested in learning as a lifelong pursuit, here are just a few thoughts and suggestions that may inspire you in the care and feeding of your mind.
Never underestimate the power of self-education.
I do not take for granted the formal education I received in school, but over the years, I have come to better understand the power of educating one’s self. In college, I majored in accounting and went on to become a CPA and corporate controller. But, in the years since college and while raising five children full-time, I have taught myself (with the help of many terrific and informative books) to be a successful freelance writer. The truth is, I have studied and learned about a myriad of other subjects on my own as well.
In seeking inspiration for educating myself, we can look to the lives of many remarkable individuals such as:
- Benjamin Franklin (whose formal education ended when he was only 10 years old; however, through much self-education, he went on to become an inventor, a highly successful businessman and an American statesman like no other);
- Thomas Edison (some of his teachers thought him too stupid for school; his mother taught him and he taught himself and went on to become one of the most famous inventors of all time, holding more than 1000 patents for technology such as the electric light and phonograph); and
- Jane Austen (the author of the classic and much-loved novels Pride and Prejudice and Emma as well as others; Jane had very little formal education but clearly worked at developing her astonishing way with words and keen eye for the human condition).
With the examples of these individuals in mind, who’s to say what you or I can learn on our own if we really set our minds to it?
Let your interests guide you.
Throughout my formal education, I took certain classes because they were a required part of my curriculum. In other words, I took them because I had to. And, quite frankly, that was as it should have been. If I were going to get along in the world, I needed to learn the basics in math, reading, writing, and so on. But, in the years since college, I have enjoyed letting my interests guide me, for the most part, in my chosen studies.
Periodically, I pull out pen and paper and brainstorm a list of subjects I want to learn more about and, over the years, my list has expanded to include a surprising variety of subjects. In the past few years, I have especially enjoyed reading and studying about the histories and cultures of England and Denmark (these two countries interest me, in particular, because I was born in England and much of my ancestry is from Denmark).
And most recently, I have studied, with rapt attention, the Revolutionary War period of American history (David McCullough’s book, 1776, makes such a study a truly engaging experience). Truth be told, these subjects barely scratch the surface of the areas I hope to learn more about in my lifetime. So, with this said, what subjects would you like to learn more about now and in the future?
Use your library card as a free passport to almost limitless learning.
A college education has never been more expensive than it is right now and the costs are ever-rising. Nevertheless, most of us have what I have come to think of as a tuition-free “University of the People” within just a few miles of home – a library.
To anyone who says, “I cannot afford an education,” I say, “Yes, you can. All it will cost you is the price of a library card” (which, in my case, consists primarily of those pesky overdue fines).
From what I’ve witnessed and experienced, a library card really can serve as a passport to almost limitless learning. I’ve known of some pretty ambitious library patrons who set out to read their way right through the stacks and, last time I checked, are making enormous progress. And while I am impressed with their singular focus and determined efforts, such an approach to seeking knowledge is, without doubt, too ambitious for me.
In my case, I like to hone in on a particular subject and then search the library catalog and browse the shelves in search of books that address that subject. In following such a learning path, I have studied many subjects including interior design, personal finance, yoga for relaxation and British literature.
And my kids and I together have used the library to learn about a number of other subjects as well; among them, the habits and habitats of manatees, the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, and the Dust Bowl period of Oklahoma history. I’m not at all embarrassed to tell you that a library is indeed a part of my vision of a Heaven on earth.
Seek out kindred spirits and mentors.
I enjoy learning on my own (where I alone determine the focus of study and set the pace for learning), but I find it can be fun and rewarding to learn with others as well. At times over the years, I have sought out kindred spirits in women’s book discussion groups and in writers’ critique groups. And many of my friends have connected with like-minded learners in a variety of other areas such as in scrap-booking, square dancing and the study of American Sign Language or Italian.
Whatever your areas of interest, consider the ways in which you can connect with like-minded individuals. Learning with others enriches can enrich what we learn on our own as it brings in new perspectives, knowledge and experience.
If you are especially interested in learning more about a particular subject or in developing a particular skill set, seek out the expertise of a mentor, someone who is further along the path in that area than you are.
I have sought such mentoring in my writing endeavors and have learned much from those willing to pass on what they’ve learned – everything from the secrets to better, more lively writing to tips for navigating the business side of being a freelance writer. I have found such mentoring through family and friends but also through books by authors I admire and by taking classes at the local university.
One thing I have discovered for sure is that you never know where you might find a thoughtful and immensely helpful mentor. One of my most cherished mentors is Alexandra Stoddard, the author of 25 books focused on interior design and creating a joyful life. Alexandra and I have shared some written correspondence and have met once in person. Through her books and our personal interactions, she has graciously shared her own path to becoming a productive and renowned author and has enthusiastically encouraged me in my efforts to realize my own writing and publishing dreams. Mentors can most assuredly play a significant part in helping us to expand our learning and develop our talents.
Find creative ways to fit focused learning into your life.
Most of us live rather busy lives whether we are in the heat and heart of family life or striving to stay up with the demands of our jobs or both. Our hectic lives can make it challenging to fit self-directed and focused learning into our days. I find it helpful to remember that a little bit of learning tucked in to each day can add up to a lot of learning over time. In fact, I once read that a mere ten minutes of focused learning a day on a particular subject can help us to become experts in that subject over time. I have become a published author only because I have been willing to write in sneaky snippets of time on most days.
When we are determined and creative in our efforts, we can find a number of ways to fit some intentional learning into our days. Consider listening to an audio book (perhaps that highly-praised novel you’ve been intending to read) while commuting to work. Perhaps you can listen to an archived internet program – discussing the political history of the Middle East – while washing the dishes and mopping the floor. Why not take a few minutes each morning while preparing for the day to review a few words or phrases in Arabic?
If you’re a mother of small children, you can find rather large pockets of time for learning while sitting in a doctor’s or dentist’s office. You’ll be able to learn much about a subject that interests you if you simply make it a habit to carry a book with you wherever you go, just in case.
Keep the 13 th Article of Faith in mind.
Anyone who has sought learning through the internet knows that this is not the Age of Innocence. We really must be sure to put on the whole armor of God when we seek learning. We can do this, in part, by seeking to learn of Him first. And, then as we search and study a fascinating array of subjects, we can ask that the Spirit to be with us to navigate our path of study.
I find it especially helpful to keep in mind the wonderful words of the 13 th article of Faith, which reads, “If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.” If we will exercise this belief – in effect, seeking learning that is virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy – we will grow in light and understanding and find ever-greater joy in our learning.
Pass the knowledge on.
If you are truly passionate about a particular subject or area of learning, it is only natural to want to pass your learning on. And what a blessing this can be to all parties involved; by choosing to teach another, you are likely to go deeper in your own learning and to play an important role in igniting a fire for learning about a particular subject in another.
Consider creating a website to pass on what you’ve learned about your family’s history or, perhaps, write a book to teach others how they can organize and beautify their homes too. Why not volunteer to teach a Relief Society Enrichment class to share what you’ve learned about creating wholesome and mouth-watering gourmet meals or offering to teach a community class on purchasing and restoring antique furniture?
When you offer to pass on what you’ve learned, others will indeed be blessed by your enthusiasm and expertise. And you will, no doubt, have fun sharing.
Embrace learning as a lifelong, joy-filled pursuit.
When I stop to consider my own parents’ examples, it is no wonder that I am so enthusiastic about learning. My parents, both in their 60’s, show no signs of slowing down in their learning endeavors. My mom never ceases to amaze me with what she continues to learn in her sewing and in her family history research. And like me, she always has a good book going.
Most recently, my mom and I have enjoyed discussing our new favorite read – These is My Words: The Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine, 1881-1901, Arizona Territories – a novel by Nancy Turner. My mom has set an exceptional example for her grandkids about the importance of education and learning by returning to college to work toward earning her bachelor’s degree; and she’s doing so as a 4.0 student, I might add!
My dad’s idea of retiring seems to be to continue learning as much as possible about our country’s legal system while attending to his continually expanding law practice. Thankfully, he balances his legal work with his other passions – woodworking and cooking. He relaxes in the evenings by reading about history and watching documentaries on television.
My parents have, through their examples, taught me that learning can indeed be a lifelong pursuit. They have also taught me that there are times and seasons in learning. For now, outside of learning to be a better mom and home manager, I carve out a little time each day to learn bits and pieces about various subjects by reading and to work, little by little, toward becoming the best writer I can be.
But, down the road, as time and circumstances permit, I can see myself learning to play the piano, to speak Spanish fluently, to better draw what I see in my mind’s eye, and so much more.
