Only Fools Know All
“Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.” -Chinese Proverb
Every day we learn something new. Something about the world, something about those around us, something about ourselves. Everyday we are offered many learning opportunities but how many of those opportunities do we recognize and learn from? How many do we take a close enough look at to learn all that we can?
Since beginning this blog, I have been forced to take a closer look at what I have learned, what I know, and what I am learning.
In it's own right, this blog has been one of my greatest learning opportunities. Creative outlets are great that way, hobbies in general really. They allow us to push ourselves, to go beyond our established capabilities, to learn what we are capable of when we set our minds to it.
For the longest time, I have struggled with writers block. Or at least, I thought that's what it was. I would start writing a new story.... and that's it. I could plan, and research, and plot... but the story didn't flow from my fingers into the computer. The keyboard was left untouched beyond the first few chapters.
So, writers block, right? Wrong. I started this blog months ago and with the exception of Easter and my vacation out of country, I have been able to put out an article each week. So what's different? The right amount of pressure. Apparently all I needed in order to keep writing was my self inflicted deadlines in order to be productive and remain motivated.
I told myself when I started this blog that I would post something every week on Thursday. I will admit, throughout the week my blog leaves my mind. Come Monday or Tuesday I begin to worry that I am out of ideas, that I will have nothing to write even though I have ideas written down, the words don't flow because I'm just not feeling that particular topic. Bam, Wednesday comes along and look at that, I suddenly have a topic in mind and my fingers dancing rapidly over the letters on my keyboard.
You see, though I may write for myself, sharing with you wonderful bras and bros gives me a certain level of necessary commitment, of accountability.
So how can I transfer what I have learned from this particular outlet to my other outlets? To my other writing projects? By knowing what makes it work, and applying those same terms. By asking a friend for help in setting deadlines for myself. That being said, I have asked my best friend to be my help in this and I will be forcing myself to send her progress at specified intervals.
So what does this have to do with you? Not everyone has blog writing under their list of hobbies and creative outlets. This is just one example of how learning opportunities present themselves in every situation. Opportunities to learn about yourself and to figure out how to apply these new lessons to other learning opportunities.
So how can we observe these opportunities in other instances? Well, if you have been reading my previous posts, you'll know that my answer is ask questions. What have you set out to accomplish that has not worked? What have you set out to accomplish that has? What was different between the two? Was it motivation? Did you enjoy it? Did you have someone pushing you, or were you left to your own devices? Are you a person who requires a certain level of distraction, or complete solitude and focus in order to accomplish something? What works for you? Why does it work for you and how can you use that to your advantage?
Of course, those are questions to be applied to other situations, but your learning opportunity doesn't have to be quite so intense. It can even be something a little more simple than that.
Another example, I love rock climbing. What does that allow me to learn about myself? Simple. It seems my mind is always racing. Racing other thoughts, racing itself, racing to figure something out. It seems my mind is never willing to just... be quiet. Recently, I told my best friend that my mind never shuts up however, as I type now, I realize that's not true. When I rock climb, my mind is clear. The only thoughts are quietly scouting how to get to the next rock, the next foot hold. The rest of the world no longer exists. From this hobby, I have learned that in order to push mute on my ever racing thoughts, I require a physical challenge that still works as a puzzle to be figured out. I require something that requires mental and physical focus.
So what are your hobbies and creative outlets? What do they allow you to learn about yourself, about your world as you know it? Do you play sports, video games, or Dungeons and Dragons (If so you may like my friends blog: http://rollforsurvival.blogspot.ca/)? Do you paint, sew, draw? Do you perhaps build, construct, or create various wood or metal projects? Why do you enjoy these things, what do they offer you, what can you learn from your choice in extra curriculars?
With so many possible hobbies in the world, there are so many opportunities to learn that often go ignored and those are just the hobbies. What about your choice in mode of transportation, in pets, in relationship or career requirements? What can you learn about yourself from these choices?
So have at it my bros and bras, venture out, venture inward, venture into the world of yet unasked questions. So much awaits your there.
In it's own right, this blog has been one of my greatest learning opportunities. Creative outlets are great that way, hobbies in general really. They allow us to push ourselves, to go beyond our established capabilities, to learn what we are capable of when we set our minds to it.
For the longest time, I have struggled with writers block. Or at least, I thought that's what it was. I would start writing a new story.... and that's it. I could plan, and research, and plot... but the story didn't flow from my fingers into the computer. The keyboard was left untouched beyond the first few chapters.
So, writers block, right? Wrong. I started this blog months ago and with the exception of Easter and my vacation out of country, I have been able to put out an article each week. So what's different? The right amount of pressure. Apparently all I needed in order to keep writing was my self inflicted deadlines in order to be productive and remain motivated.
I told myself when I started this blog that I would post something every week on Thursday. I will admit, throughout the week my blog leaves my mind. Come Monday or Tuesday I begin to worry that I am out of ideas, that I will have nothing to write even though I have ideas written down, the words don't flow because I'm just not feeling that particular topic. Bam, Wednesday comes along and look at that, I suddenly have a topic in mind and my fingers dancing rapidly over the letters on my keyboard.
You see, though I may write for myself, sharing with you wonderful bras and bros gives me a certain level of necessary commitment, of accountability.
So how can I transfer what I have learned from this particular outlet to my other outlets? To my other writing projects? By knowing what makes it work, and applying those same terms. By asking a friend for help in setting deadlines for myself. That being said, I have asked my best friend to be my help in this and I will be forcing myself to send her progress at specified intervals.
So what does this have to do with you? Not everyone has blog writing under their list of hobbies and creative outlets. This is just one example of how learning opportunities present themselves in every situation. Opportunities to learn about yourself and to figure out how to apply these new lessons to other learning opportunities.
So how can we observe these opportunities in other instances? Well, if you have been reading my previous posts, you'll know that my answer is ask questions. What have you set out to accomplish that has not worked? What have you set out to accomplish that has? What was different between the two? Was it motivation? Did you enjoy it? Did you have someone pushing you, or were you left to your own devices? Are you a person who requires a certain level of distraction, or complete solitude and focus in order to accomplish something? What works for you? Why does it work for you and how can you use that to your advantage?
Of course, those are questions to be applied to other situations, but your learning opportunity doesn't have to be quite so intense. It can even be something a little more simple than that.
Another example, I love rock climbing. What does that allow me to learn about myself? Simple. It seems my mind is always racing. Racing other thoughts, racing itself, racing to figure something out. It seems my mind is never willing to just... be quiet. Recently, I told my best friend that my mind never shuts up however, as I type now, I realize that's not true. When I rock climb, my mind is clear. The only thoughts are quietly scouting how to get to the next rock, the next foot hold. The rest of the world no longer exists. From this hobby, I have learned that in order to push mute on my ever racing thoughts, I require a physical challenge that still works as a puzzle to be figured out. I require something that requires mental and physical focus.
So what are your hobbies and creative outlets? What do they allow you to learn about yourself, about your world as you know it? Do you play sports, video games, or Dungeons and Dragons (If so you may like my friends blog: http://rollforsurvival.blogspot.ca/)? Do you paint, sew, draw? Do you perhaps build, construct, or create various wood or metal projects? Why do you enjoy these things, what do they offer you, what can you learn from your choice in extra curriculars?
With so many possible hobbies in the world, there are so many opportunities to learn that often go ignored and those are just the hobbies. What about your choice in mode of transportation, in pets, in relationship or career requirements? What can you learn about yourself from these choices?
So have at it my bros and bras, venture out, venture inward, venture into the world of yet unasked questions. So much awaits your there.
“If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you.” -Author Unknown
Cheers!
The Bra Street Rambler
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