Learning to Learn…
Written by Michele T on November 2, 2007 – 10:17 pm -For whatever reason, I’ve been thinking about the word “learning” a lot lately. It seems some people have a lot of trouble with this word. Why? They think they know everything. They think they’re better than we are, or that they know more than we do. They have no interest in learning something from someone younger than them, or perhaps they’re just like an old dog and refuse to learn a new trick. Who knows?
So, I braved the cyber highway and pulled over at Merriam-Webster to see what they had to say on the matter.
They state:
- Main Entry: learning
- Function:noun
- Date:before 12th century
1 : the act or experience of one that learns I adore the experience of learning new things! I feel exhilarated when I’m in the act of studying and learning. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, I’m ever learning and I hope I always keep this attitude. I’m amazed every day with new things I learn. For instance, since I’ve been blogging, I’ve learned: I always begin each day wondering what I’ll learn before the sun sets. Will I learn about a new market to submit my writing to? Will I find a great book that will lead me further down the writer’s path? Will I learn a new way of doing something, perhaps an even better way? Will I find a new recipe at a friend’s blog that I can try out for dinner? Are you willing to learn? Are you willing to gain knowledge you can carry with you forever? The world is a vast, expansive space filled with learning opportunities of all kinds. Open your eyes, and your heart, and maybe you’ll learn something new, too. As Gandhi said, I hope you “learn as if you’ll live forever” while writing the cyber highway!
2 : knowledge or skill acquired by instruction or study
3 : modification of a behavioral tendency by experience (as exposure to conditioning)
synonyms see knowledge
Posted in Uncategorized | 13 Comments »
November 2nd, 2007 at 11:53 pm
Hi Michele,
What a great entry about learning. Like you, I love to learn new things, and one really does, too, in blogland. And in life. For instance, today I learned how to post my new picture into my profile. Sheesh, I never thought I could do it. But I did. And you know why? Cause I had a patient, knowledgeable friend who took the time to explain it to me. Thank you, knowledgeable friend!
I enjoyed Learning to Learn. And I always learn a lot reading Writing the Cyber Highway.
Your grateful Bud,
Renie
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November 2nd, 2007 at 11:59 pm
Hi Renie,
Thanks for all the wonderful things you said about me (and my blog!). I appreciate your kind words to no end ;0)
I’m glad you learned how to post your profile photo, and I was honored to be the one to help (as always)!
I know what you mean! I learn lots at blogs, too.
It’s also great that you learn lots at Writing the Cyber Highway–I must be doing a little something right, eh?
Smiles,
Michele
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November 3rd, 2007 at 2:54 am
Michele,
This is a wonderful post. I love the Ghandi quote. Learning is nourishment for the brain! I enjoy learning. I learn something new every day. Blogging and reading blogs provide a great way to learn.
Like Renie, I learn a lot reading Writing the Cyber Highway. Thank you!
Hugs,
Tina
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November 3rd, 2007 at 3:06 am
Wow, you ladies really know how to make a girl blush!
Thanks for your kind words, Tina. I love learning, too. There’s always something new to learn in life (online and off), if we only keep our eyes open ;0)
I’m so glad you learn things here at “Writing the Cyber Highway!”
*Off to see what’s going on in Tina’s world*
Smiles,
Michele
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November 3rd, 2007 at 3:51 am
Michele,
A good post on learning. Like everyone else on your blog, I like to learn new things and I feel that I do everyday. Not only from the wonderful blogs that I read (and I know there’s more, I just haven’t gotten around to them yet), but from the reading and research that I do on the web too. And of course, there is Chatt Tech, I have a few more classes there…I learn everyday from my grandchildren, my animals, and by observing the outdoors. I learn by being social, talking and listening to others.
No one knows everything – if each one of us lived to be 200 years old, our knowledge would be but a drop in the bucket. We just don’t have enough time.
We do have time to learn from yesterday, to learn more today, and to hope for a chance to learn tomorrow, and to extend our knowledge with wisdom.
Or to put it simply:
My Mom has always said that one can have the highest education yet if s/he is without common sense, s/he has no sense at all.
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November 3rd, 2007 at 3:59 am
Hi Deborah,
Thanks for your wonderful comment! I really appreciate all your wise and inspiring words ;0)
Yes, I know there are a lot of good blogs I haven’t made my way around to. You’re right, there just isn’t enough hours in the day…
And… we can learn lots from those around us, if we just try, and if we have patience.
No, no one knows everything, but some people sure think they do! ha!
I especially love these words of yours:
“We do have time to learn from yesterday, to learn more today, and to hope for a chance to learn tomorrow, and to extend our knowledge with wisdom.”–A great quote!
Hey, my Mom believes the education thing, too, only she calls it “horse sense!”
*Snickers* (No, not the candy bar, silly)
Smiles,
Michele
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November 3rd, 2007 at 4:10 am
I’ve been freelance writing for 10+ years, but no matter how many years experience I have, I’m always studying the craft… and every time I study it, I learn something new. Then when I get bored trying to learn more about writing, I study blogging, and I still learn new things. Of course, I only have a little over two years blogging experience, but that just means there’s much more to learn that I don’t already know.
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November 3rd, 2007 at 4:19 am
Exactly! No matter how many years we’ve been doing something, there’s still room to learn and there always will be.
Life is always advancing, technology changes, and so on. And, there’s always people that have had experiences you haven’t, whether it’s traveling to other countries, working in a certain field, or just living a different way.
Learning is truly wonderful! Even after I’ve been freelancing for 30 years, I still want to have a learning attitude. I’m sure you feel the same.
Smiles,
Michele
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November 3rd, 2007 at 12:43 pm
Hi Michele,
GREAT post! Learning is so incredibly essential – it’s like breathing clean air and eating that silly fiber every day. I must admit that I’m a closet philosophy junkie and if I’m not stretching my brain cells with Aristotle and Jean-Paul Sartre I feel empty. I just recently found all my old Ayn Rand books and am feeling pretty brave and wild after reading “The Fountainhead” for the fourth time in 40 years. (You have lots of free time while living in the back of your Cadillac for a week.)
blessings,
julia
julia ward – a BLINDING heart – a writer’s blog – http://www.ablindingheart.com
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November 3rd, 2007 at 2:36 pm
Hi Julia,
So glad you’re back. Yes, learning is essential. I feel empty, too, if I’m not learning something new each day ;0)
I’m glad you found the positives to living in a car for a week. Not many people could do that!
You should write about it. I wonder if Common Ties would be a good market? They publish shorter pieces 200-300 words now. They also publish pieces 750 words and up. They pay a minimum of $100, and sometimes a lot more depending on length, quality, etc.
Best wishes for a great November!
Smiles,
Michele
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November 3rd, 2007 at 7:37 pm
I’m tagging you for If you had an extra hour each day, what would you write?.
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November 6th, 2007 at 12:01 pm
I think my greatest problem is knowing I WON’T live forever. There is so much I want to know but knowing I have limited time prevents me from striving in areas that aren’t as important to me as others.
For example, I’ll always choose a writing or history book over a language or medical book at the library. I’d love to read them all but I won’t live forever so its important to chase the knowledge I truly want today and leave other topics in the hope that at some point I’ll be able to learn them too.
It is wonderful to know others are avid in their yearning for greater knowledge. There is nothing too great or too little to learn. I only wish we could live forever so that I’d feel like I might have some chance of scratching the surface of all there is to learn.
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November 6th, 2007 at 4:12 pm
You’re right, Rebecca, we won’t live forever. But we can’t dwell on that.
Like you said, we must reach out and learn all we can in the moment, while we have that moment, and learn more as time allows.
Thanks for another awesome, thoughtful comment. I always look forward to you dropping by and leaving a piece of your knowledge and great personality in the comments ;0)
Smiles,
Michele
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