I love learning. To me, there’s nothing more satisfying than exploring, cultivating and (eventually) conversing with others about ideas. Those of you who read this blog will find no surprises here.
Since Tuesday, I have been taking time off for rest and repair. My mind and body both said, “enough,” to the pressures and even the excitement of my responsibilities. During this time, I have also reconnected with learning.
Examples: 1) learning grammar using Khan Academy’s app; 2) learning about production listening to Rick Beato’s interviews with renowned music engineers and producers; 3) learning about the times we are living through by watching interviews with historian, Yuval Noah Harari.
These are all deep dives into subjects that interest me. I have chosen to spend hours of effort expanding my perspective. Why?
As a teacher, creative and student I seek to keep expanding. Nothing, IMHO, causes decay of the mind more than thinking “I know everything I need to know.”
While others might fantasize about days on the porch, rocking along and talking about this and that, I see my later years as an extension of this week: it’s all about being curious and enriching one’s perspective.
That dovetails well into writing and teaching, of course. Even as I’m learning I picture sharing what I’ve learned with others.
That said, it is also true that “I am an introvert with an extrovert tank.” Our friend Joanna, a brilliant singer and performer, shared that a year ago and it resonated deeply with me. Like her, I am grateful for alone time as much and sometimes more than social time. As performers, it’s how we refill our extrovert tanks.
So, the Adventure is not just an external experience. It is an inward journey, too.
May you find the balance of what works for you.
