Learning

Thursday June 2, 2011

"I would fain grow old learning many things." (Plato)

Fain means gladly. You may have just learned something, which is appropriate since my simple pleasure this week is learning.

So to paraphrase Plato, “I would gladly grow old learning many things.” My sentiments exactly.

I love to learn. I’d be a career student if I could! In fact, I’ve decided to take a class this summer…and then maybe another one. It will help my writing, my reading, my teaching, and just my being. It’ll be interesting.

The great thing about learning is, it’s so portable. You can do it anywhere. We learn about people and places just by noticing our surroundings. We learn from nature. We learn from our souls and spirits in communication with God; we learn from scripture.

And your posture right now is perfect for learning. It’s so easy to learn as you cruise around the internet. (There are, of course, a few caveats. Be sure you can trust your source. That’s an important lesson for kids, in itself. I teach a whole lesson at school on how to know your source is credible.)

And learning can be such a bonding experience. I can close my eyes and see the day my grandmother taught me to embroider. I love to think back on the times my sons and I read together. I remember well days spent in the kitchen as I learned how to fix the perfect Sunday roast from my mom.

And I plan to keep on learning. There’s so much out there still to be learned! Learning is such a simple – and special – pleasure.

Do you love to learn? Or teach? Do you have special learning memories, too?

Linking up today with Dayle for Simple Pleasures.


Project Simple Pleasures2


14 comments:

Gayle said...

Oh, I love this post because I am a passionate learner as well. In the last few years I have taken a job as teaching nursing and continued ed for caregivers and I find I am able to pass on my passion to students. Well, some students! Don't you think we live in such a wonderful time for learning?

Dayle ~ A Collection of Days said...

You're never too old to learn. Take it from me, you can even teach an old dog a new trick. :)

Anonymous said...

Hello! I'm over from Dayle's blog. Learning is a great thing to enjoy! There is so much to learn...it's exciting!

GLENDA CHILDERS said...

Three cheers for life long learners.

Fondly,
Glenda

no spring chicken said...

Fabulous picture. Goes great with your true sentiment! Learning is a gift that should never be taken for granted or unappreciated...

Blessings, Debbie

Anonymous said...

I know what you mean. I could have spent years in college just learning all the interesting things I would have liked to -- if I could have afforded it!

Faith said...

oh how I LOVE to teach and in doing so, I've LEARNED so much...from the little ones, from my own daughters, from the other women I lead or have led in the past, from the poor, from the rich....from my self...about my self...and from the Lord.... one of my fave learning memories was from my voice teacher in college...the WAY she encouraged me to just sing and be my self taught me more than the actual music theory, etc. if you know what i mean.

Linda said...

What a terrific simple pleasure!!

Happy to have found you to follow....

Shonya said...

Ahhhhhhhh, delightful post! I also love learning, and one of my greatest pleasures has been learning that I can learn without going to school (after I mourned my inability to be a full-time student for the rest of my life! ha!)

I most enjoy others who are continually learning as well because they are most interesting and we never outgrow one another when we're each expanding our knowledge and experiences.

Thanks for such a wonderful post!

Southern Gal said...

Since we homeschool I find I'm learning something new every day. It's refreshing to look at things from a different perspective and LOVE learning. Thanks for sharing.

Brenda @ Its A Beautiful Life said...

I LOVE to learn new things. And thank you for sharing what the word 'fain' means. I've seen it in my reading of older works, but (have to tell the truth) I never had the urge to find the dictionary for that particular word.

I like it! And I like Plato quote too.

Thanks so much for stopping by my site today and leaving your footprint in my comment box. It's fun to connect with other Simple Pleasures participants... amazing how many are 'kindred spirits'.

Here's wishing you glimpses of heaven in unexpected places.

La Vie Quotidienne said...

Continuing to learn is a very important part of life...and there are so many fun things to learn and enjoy. Thank you for stopping by to visit me and leaving such a nice message

Janis Van Keuren said...

Your photo does an awesome job of illustrating your simple pleasure. I think all of us love to learn, and we gather so much from each other as we read one another's blog posts.

Blessings,
Janis

Melissa said...

When I was a young adult (back when I knew it all LOL) I thought I was finished with learning. Even when I went back to college to take two classes to finish my degree, I didn't enjoy it. But when I became a mom and started seeing the joy of learning on my son's face, I rediscovered my own love of learning.

Thanks for this post!

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