When was the last time you learned something new? When was the last time you deliberately learned something new? Every day we experience events that can teach us something if we look for the lesson. I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about the last time you decided that you needed to know more about a particular topic or wanted to learn a new skill – and then you went and gained that new knowledge.
Been a while?
One of the more rewarding parts of having a career focused in professional development is routinely having the opportunity to explore new subjects. How can I pass on information about goal setting or time management or even write these posts without taking the time to learn something new? I’m learning something new all the time.
While it’s interesting to me to have new information, the best part about learning is this: I can’t learn something new without learning something new about myself as well. This is why it’s important. Learning something new creates an environment for our personal growth, too.
So whether I read a book about an historical event, listen to a lecturer on a topic, or conduct an extensive Internet search on a particular theme, I come away knowing something more about what I believe, what I know to be true, or thinking about why I should change going forward. It can’t be helped. Knowledge impacts us this way.
Returning to where we began: when was the last time you deliberately learned something new?
Maybe it’s time.
Learned that Wadena was a major buckwheat production area. Learned that the Russians had a proverb: “Cabbage and kasha ( roasted buckwheat groat porridge) are all we need to live” Learnd that kasha and bow-tie pasta ( “kasha varnishkes) is a majorly important dish in Jewish areas. Learned that Wadena hasn’t yet taken advantage of that fact. I made the kasha varnishkes. It is very simple, or could not have made it. It tastes good
I also learned that a major Minn lumber owner a century ago, Edward Hines, lost his son in WWI and gave his son’s money to Cardinl Mundelein to build St.Mary of The Lake Seminary in 1926. The gift of 500K was the largest gift ever given to a catholic institution. The donation letter was quoted in Chicago Lumberman of that year.
Love it! Now I’ve learned all this, too. Thanks for sharing, Tim.