Window or Mirror?

���If a man empties his purse into his head, no-one can take it from him.”

1. The acquisition of knowledge or skill

Those who educate children well are to be more honored than parents, for these only gave life, those the art of living well. - Aristotle

To think of learning as a preparation for something beyond learning is a defeat of the process. The most important attitude that can be formed is that of desire to go on learning. - Daniel Bell

Learning makes a man fit company for himself. - Young

It seems obvious to me that learning must be life-long but it isn’t obvious to everyone. Life doesn’t get easier over time, but individual issues can become simplified if you learn. Learning from life provides deep and organic learning. The “ditches in our mind” seem to be cut most deeply by the rushing headwaters of heartbreak and great pain. When learning is painful, it sticks with us for a lifetime. The key of course is to consider it learning, looking past the pain to gain insight.

My idea of what continuous learning is:

Learn from every life experience. Pain and negative outcomes provide the deepest learning.
Look carefully each evening at the day. Identify what you saw, heard, felt, and did – and what the effects of those things were. Think specifically about the cause to effect flows of events; can you recognize most causes and effects? Then, review the personal interactions you had today. Concentrate on the people that were ‘too young’, ‘too lowly’, or ‘too removed’ to really be of any benefit to you. Learn something from each of them. Children are the best for this as you’ll develop a childish curiosity again. You may even get some humility and respect for others while you’re at it!

Never leave yourself without structured study. You’ll be better company for yourself.
It is important to gain wisdom, which can be well accomplished by listening, watching, and participating in life. It is also critical to pursue education of interest in a stepwise manner. Human brains are tuned to certain situations and thought patterns. In order to broaden our minds it is important to cut new channels and paths for our thoughts. Structured learning provides a base for study, as well as great main path to stray from while we stride to our goals. Also, reaching milestones is a great motivator. Studying with a plan allows for this visible progress. One suggestion; take notes, document everything you study – and record your thoughts and ideas. This will be a great gift to others interested in the same subject (like this paper may be to you!).

At every opportunity – teach. You’ll learn more deeply, and often, plant a seed in another.
Pain does provide deep learning, but nothing purifies your educational learning like the searing kiln of inquisitive students! With repeated explanation and incrementally improved answers, as well as exposure to multiple views on the same subject, the depth of your knowledge will increase. You give the gift of education to your pupils, they give the gift of improved educational thought back to you.