It feels like a just a few years ago that it was my turn to enter into kindergarten.
Mrs. MacIntosh was my teacher and hero, and Mrs. MacDonald kept me safe on the bus ride to and from school. I still remember how nervous I was. And I remember things that both of those women taught me to this day. Back then, I remember thinking that time moved very slowly — that I had all the time in the world.
In what seems like a snap of the fingers, it was my turn to send my children to their kindergarten hero: Mrs. McEwen. The years of my education went by in a lazy stroll, but the years of my children’s education have gone by in a blink.
We watched my younger son graduate university earlier this year.
I’m afraid that tomorrow I’m going to wake up and be sending my grandchildren off to university.
[ctt template=”3″ link=”BJ8IC” via=”yes” ]I need to remember that I still have a long way to go when it comes to learning about life. (read more http://ctt.ec/BJ8IC+ ) @RhondaScharf[/ctt]
Time has flown by in the past years, and it seems to pick up speed as I get older.
I celebrated my 51st birthday recently. Technically, that is past the half-way point. I’m fairly confident that the next 51 years are going to go much faster than the first 51 years have.
I spent the first 51 years learning. Learning how to talk and walk. Learning how to read, attend school, make friends, earn money and preserve relationships.
By no means am I done learning any of those things, and I have even more to learn.
I need to learn to say, “I was wrong” and “I’m sorry” more often. I need to learn that there are others who know more than I do (who may be much younger than I am!), and that I need to listen to what they say. I need to remember that I still have a long way to go when it comes to learning about life.
Does your company offer training that you don’t attend? I am always amazed at how many people say things like, “I already know all that stuff. I don’t have time to go to a training program where they just rehash old stuff.”
Too bad those people already know everything.
I look forward to attending training programs, and I take as many as I can — even on the topics that I teach! Not because I want to feel good about how much I know, but because I realize there is always more to learn. Learning is more fun at 51 than it was in my youth. I wish I’d realized then how great it is to learn more each day.
I listen to educational podcasts, I read business and educational books and I attend as many educational conferences as possible.
Do you?
When was the last time you learned something new or tried something different? Just because it isn’t broken doesn’t mean we can’t make it work faster, better and more efficiently.
[ctt template=”3″ link=”KlLdA” via=”yes” ]If I were just entering university now, I would be first in class and the last to leave. (read more: http://ctt.ec/KlLdA+ ) @RhondaScharf[/ctt]
I’m envious of those young adults just entering into college and university now. If I were just entering university now, I would be first in class and the last to leave. I would want to have a A+ average!
I’m blessed to be in a field that promotes learning. I love to teach. I love seeing the ‘ah-ha’ sparks in the eyes of my participants.
I get paid to learn, which in itself is pretty exciting. Many of you get paid to learn, too — you just need take advantage of what your company has to offer. If your company doesn’t offer formal training, find a mentor, watch others, surf the Internet (there’s a ton of free education available on the Internet), join an association — and be open to learning.
Ask yourself, “What did I learn today?” every day. Make a point to learn one new thing each day.
I’m excited about what I can learn in the next 51 years. If I’m lucky, I’ll figure out a way to sneak in a few extra years of learning too. When I’m done learning, then I’ll die. I’m not done learning yet — not by a long shot!
Article by,
Rhonda Scharf
As appeared in the Huffington Post November 18, 2016
