Lifelong Learning

Learning how to learn is the most valuable skill that we can acquire. Learning how to learn is something that once learned, can teach us for the rest of our lives.

Learn to learn. How do you learn?

First start with learning to read. If you can read, and read quickly and comprehend well what has been read, then you can teach yourself almost anything. For almost any skill, a book has already been written on how to do it, and most times there are multiple books on the subject.

If you can read these books and comprehend and apply their concepts, you will be able to learn how to do that skill.

But nothing can replace doing. Nothing can replace application.

You can have knowledge of how to fish, but until you actually go out to the stream and use the fishing rod, you will not be applying your knowledge, which constitutes learning.

I am dedicated to learning for the rest of my life.

I am dedicated to improving my base of knowledge, my ability to synthesize ideas, and the general improvement of my mind.

How will you teach yourself how to learn?

How will you continue to learn for the rest of your life?

What I Want Out of Life

I started this post a while ago, and it didn't quite seem like the time to post it just yet. Now is the time, I suppose.

This post states what I want out of life. 

First though, let me say that I already have a lot. 

I have a loving family, amazing kids, a wonderful wife, an amazing extended family, and generally speaking a whole lot of love. I have a great job, a career I can grow into, money to pay the bills, a wonderful home, and two cars that run like champs. 

I have more than I could ever ask for, to be honest. 

Maybe I don't need to write this post after all...

It's the season of Thanksgiving. I have a whole hell of a lot to be thankful for. 

Some of those things I am thankful for are listed above. Others are larger. Like the opportunity to wake up today. Others are smaller. Like the feeling I have when I take a deep breath of fresh air. And then there are all the things in between all the highlights and the low-lights of living life on this planet.

I am truly grateful for each moment I have the opportunity to be alive.

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So, I am truly grateful for everything.

Being grateful doesn't mean I cannot strive for more.

I have decided a few things lately. I have started to define what it is that I want from my life, that I don't already have.

They are simple but large things, and there are only four.

1. I want to make a living from my creative activity.

2. I want to be physically fit and healthy. 

3. I want to be completely debt free.

4. I want to own a beach house.

Those are the four things that I want out of life, that I don't already have. If I never accomplished any of them, I would still lead a good and satisfying life. But why not go for the gold? Why not try and get that which I may be able to attain? Why not set goals and work toward them?

In coming up with reasons for why I should improve myself, I still have only one: because I can. 

The only reason that I want to improve myself is because I can.

Eventually, I will need to have a more passionate and energetic reason behind self-improvement. But for now, just that one reason will suffice.

What are the things that you are grateful for?

What are the things that you are striving for?

Now What? A Peek at What's Next

Now what?

I have made some changes, and now what? Now what do I need to do?

I need to write more. I need to share more. I need to create more. That is what I need to do.

And that is what I am doing right now.

I am constantly on the lookout for distractions. I find and embrace them. That is what I do.

But right now I am not going to be distracted.

Above there is a picture of something peeking above the horizon, showing itself, just a little bit, and working to reveal itself more and more.

That is what I am doing as well, working to reveal myself more and more.

I am uncovering new things and beliefs about myself, and I will be sharing them here.

One thing I have learned is that I am a creature of habit. And so I am trying to change some of my habits. I am learning that some of my existing habits are not good for me, and that I need to change.

I need to change.

I must change.

Getting to "must change" can be a long, long road. But that is where the action happens. Nothing happens when we might change, or could change, or god forbid, should change. Must change makes it happen.

Or not.

Just because I must change doesn't mean that I am going to.

But I do have a better shot at it. I have the potential to change now.

I had an earlier post about potential that showed that I am more interested in what actually happens as opposed to what could happen.

I still believe that. I still believe that what actually happens is more revealing, more telling, than what could happen. Especially what could happen and doesn't.

But it remains the truth that I now have the potential to change, at least more so before I arrived at the must change state.

There is a lot riding on this now, the fact that I need to and want to and can and must change.

What would happen if I don't make the changes that I seek in my life?

Deterioration.

What would happen if I do make the changes that I seek in my life?

Growth.

And so I will change, and continue to change as long as necessary, from now until I die.

Art, Quote and a Song

Dig a Well

Dig a well.

Find your source.

Take action.

Resign yourself to accept those things you cannot change.

Change the things you can.

Do not conserve your energy. What are you saving it for?

Be the person you are. Embrace yourself fully.

Complete what you set out to do. Make sure your heart is in it.

Like yourself more and more each day.

"There's another train. There always is." - The Poozies

There will be no later, there was no then, there is only now.

Take a chance. Take a chance on yourself. Bet that you will succeed.

There is always some bit of strength left at the end of the day. Use it up.

Leave everything on the table.

Put yourself into the work you do.

Commit.

Dig a well.