Wednesday, September 8, 2010

The Learning Spirit in Childhood

As a child, I often felt my sole reason for living was to learn. Each year I learned new subjects in school, and my teachers didn't expect me to know beyond my grade level. When I joined a sport, my coach did not expect me to be an expert. Even at home, my parents taught me new skills, not expecting me to know how to do something I'd never done before.

As an adult, I often feel I'm expected to have it all figured out. After all, years of experience has taught me many skills. But what about the chances we take as adults? Do we expect our learning curve to be tiny, even non-existent?

Personally, I'm learning every day. I'm learning how to communicate with my growing children. I'm learning how to write not just a novel, but a good novel. I'm learning new recipes, new exercises, and new ways to deal with old issues. Sometimes I get frustrated when I try something new and it doesn't come easily. Those are the days I remind myself to foster that learning spirit I had throughout childhood. It's okay if we don't catch on to something in five seconds. Becoming proficient at anything takes time.


Do you get frustrated when it takes you a long time to learn something new?

Join me on Friday to set one goal!

27 comments:

  1. Some days I think I will never learn anything. Well, make that most days! I seem to repeat mistakes continually. ;)

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  2. It depends. Sometimes when things are totally out of my element and I've decided to learn them, I'm more forgiving if I don't "master" it right away.
    But things I feel I can do and can't, I get frustrated with more easily.

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  3. I can. I put a lot of pressure on myself. In the learning process, I always do better to step back a few times to evaluate what's happening.

    ~ Wendy

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  4. I can be very hard on myself when learning something new. But I realize too that I can't know everything! I'd like to live mastering tasks that I feel called to do; and encourage and accept help and service by others who master tasks that just don't come easily for me.

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  5. Good morning!

    Sherrinda: Yeah, I do too! It's so frustrating to repeat the same mistakes. :)

    Jennifer: Good point. If I perceive I'm doing something difficult, I'm easier on myself.

    Wendy: I'm hard on myself too. But I know you are objective about criticism and so am I. That's the upside!

    Lynn: Love that attitude. It's wonderful to be able to accept help gratefully.

    Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  6. I do get frustrated sometimes, it depends on what it is. I allow myself more leeway for some things than others. I constantly remind myself that I am a work in progress:)
    Like this theme, lots of good stuff here!
    Blessings,
    Karen

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  7. I like learning what I'm interested in:) That is both good and bad!

    Writing is the biggest lesson I've undertaken in a long time, and I can see that I will be in school for a long time to come.

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  8. When I don't learn something fast enough, I get very flustered and feel even more determined to get it right.
    Unfortunately, some things (like Algebra) are beyond my mental capacity.

    I hope I'm always emotionally learning though. Funny that you mentioned kids. This morning I thought about how my son is getting older, and how I can talk to him a little differently now.

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  9. I feel like I'm just NOW learning to learn!

    Wow.

    Great post.
    Patti

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  10. Karen L: I'm a work in progress too, but sometimes I feel like I should be a finished product! :)

    Tamika: It's a fun school to be in, though, isn't it? I constantly learn new things about writing.

    Jessica: It's amazing how our relationship with our children changes as they age. I'm really enjoying it!

    Patti: Ha! :)

    Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  11. Learning is a huge part of life. If we love the process than we love life, but yes, it can take time.

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  12. Great post, Jill! I think learning is a big part of the fun of writing, and living!!

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  13. I think the fast pace of society has conditioned many to instant gratification. People want to have painted (or written, or played, or done) rather than invest the amount of time it takes to do something well. As Mama done said, "If'n you're gonna do something, do it right and do it good."

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  14. There are some days when I wondered if I've learned anything at all...

    But for the most part, I love learning. It's admitting that I don't know something that was harder to overcome.

    But the line from Scrooge comes back to me from time to time:

    "I don't know anything, I never did know anything, but now I KNOW that I don't know, all on a Christmas morning."

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  15. Yes, very often. Sometimes I feel as if it's a blot on my learning ability if I can't learn something right away. It's not a good thing, and I'm trying to change those feelings.

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  16. What a great post! I feel like I'm learning more now than ever. Since I took writing seriously, I learn something new every single day. It's wonderful.

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  17. Hi Jill -

    I appreciated this post so much.

    As an adult, I find my learning style has shifted to a hands-on approach. Finally, I'm giving myself a little grace and working through the missteps of the process.

    Blessings,
    Susan :)

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  18. I hear ya! Except, I've always been like that, even when a kid. I want to be perfect at something before I even start. Fortunately I'm getting better at allowing myself to make mistakes and develop bit by bit. It remains to be seen if I'll ever learn not to stress about the learning curves, though! :o)

    Great post, Jill!

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  19. Susan M: Loving the process--so true. I do love it!

    Paul: It is! Especially in living. Learning adds a little spice to life!

    CJ: I agree. My youngest is entering a more challenging school year and I tell him to slow down, take his time and do it right. Mama's advice is universal!

    Erica: Love that line! Sometimes I read something that makes so much sense, and I'll want to smack my forehead for not knowing it sooner!

    Abby: "A blot on my learning ability." Yep. I completely understand!

    Julie: Me too. I'm always learning something new or just putting old knowledge together in a new way. :)

    Susan JR: We all need a little grace. Thanks!

    Jackee: I know! Why on earth do we think we should be good at something the first time we do it?? :)

    Thank you very much for stopping by!

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  20. Yes--you know it! Especially this writing craft. Groan:)

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  21. I definitely get frustrated when I try to learn new things and they don't come easily. I remember when I learned to jump on the pogo stick or play jacks, or to do a ball game called 7up. I never got frustrated because I had such passion to do it and I just knew I could. Where did all that go? I'm getting it back. Thanks for such insight.

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  22. Terri: I hear you!

    Nancy: We had more time to learn then too. I loved that passion you described. I remember spending hours trying to get a chinese jump rope twisted just right!

    Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  23. My fave experience with learning has been the practice of yoga. When I started (now over 10 years ago), I was reminded again and again to approach each class with a "beginner's mind." To not expect myself to "master" a pose (because you never really do), to lose my balance/fall out of a pose--and laugh about it! It was GREAT training for creative writing....where every blank page is an oppty. to learn.

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  24. My fave experience with learning has been the practice of yoga. When I started (now over 10 years ago), I was reminded again and again to approach each class with a "beginner's mind." To not expect myself to "master" a pose (because you never really do), to lose my balance/fall out of a pose--and laugh about it! It was GREAT training for creative writing....where every blank page is an oppty. to learn.

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  25. Jill:
    About the time I think I have something learned, someone changes the rules or upgrades the tools.

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  26. Patrice: I used to do yoga every day, and it amazed me how my body adapted and grew stronger with each session. Thanks for the memory!

    Quiet Spirit: Isn't that the truth? :)

    Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  27. Oh yeah! Sometimes my biggest hurdle is humbling myself to admit that I don't know how to do something! I've got so much to learn as a writer, sometimes it's overwhelming. I'm glad there are numerous tools out there and I can attack things one day at a time! Have a great weekend, Jill! God bless!

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