Finding a way to learn through the storms

In my last blog I mentioned that I was going to be going through my journals and re-writing the topics that I wrote in 1995 during my Senior English class.  These past few weeks have been more than tough, so when I ran across this next entry I found it to be the most appropriate to write about.

"The successful adult continues to learn all his life."

Back in 1995 I stated that I didn't necessarily agree with this statement.  I'll give you a few bits and pieces of my journaling back then and I will write how I feel about this statement now.  In my younger years I felt that as an adult we may continue to learn many things but not all people do.  I felt that successful adults might not ever learn the value of a friend, the value of trust, or the value of other people's feelings.  This would be determined by what we defined as successful in our minds.  At that time, successful was determined to me by money.  Every dollar bill controlled our lives.  If your main goal in life was to be successful in money, your may never really be successful at all if you don't have your friends and family around.  You could continue to learn intellectually, but not from within your heart.  

I was really feeling something there, at such a young age.  What provoked it?  Nothing I suppose.  We as a family were not financially successful, but we were successful in knowing the value of family.  We were grounded and close together.  I am confident this was the base of my journal at that time.  So, let me see where I am on this topic now.

Does the successful adult continue to learn all of their life?  Absolutely.  I learn something new every single day.  Today I learned something new about a new software system being used at my workplace.  You will always be successful if you continue to be open to learning something new.  This openness doesn't mean being open to learning something new at work or to training your brain with book knowledge.  Learn something about yourself.  Learn something about your best friend, your kids, your parents, your siblings, or your spouse.  Ask questions and start a genuine conversation.  Surprise yourself and see how long you can have a conversation without complaining about work, gossiping about someone or how awful your life may seem.  Sing a song in the car with your best friend as high as the volume will go.  Take a walk and catch up on things you and your friend have never discussed.  Earn the trust of others.  Learn the value of their feelings.  Learn the value of trust.  Heck, learn those lyrics to the songs at karaoke night the next time you go!  Everyday make it a goal to learn something new.  

This past few weeks, I have learned that feelings from others are genuine.  Some pretend, and you can learn how to identify that.  Your children will teach you every day.  You will learn how to use the newest technology, you will learn about the newest trends in fashion, the newest music and even about their girlfriends and boyfriends.  We will learn something everyday.  The minute you stop learning, is the minute you stop living.  Take a breath and learn to weather your storms.  Learn how to live through them.  Learn who to lean on when you need help.  You will live life to the fullest with every bit of knowledge you gain.