The Value of Learning

The Grand Canyon
One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World

Learning should be a life-long process. It not only expands our minds, but also our opportunities.

With the advent of the internet, we have access to learning like never before. We can sit at the virtual feet of philosopher's masters or watch instructions to correctly order our Jeep's spark plugs. We can take a tour of a foreign land or landmark at the stroke of a key. We can even follow our lineage back many generations.

Websites that share learning abound, both free and for pay. Inspiration is everywhere.

Writer's Digest is one of my favorite writing how-to resources. Second to that, but not quite as accessible in a timely manner is writing conferences: particularly ANWA's Time Out for Writers. Books are available as are blogs and websites to help you improve (see which book we're talking about this month over on the Five Pages blog. Your local library may also host workshops on a variety of topics.

Where do you want to go? What did you learn today?

Whatever it is, Learn On, my friends!

Obstacles. What are yours?

Atsushi at the Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is, no doubt, a masterpiece. Over millions of years, a river carved out this deep and colorful chasm. We do not have millions of years to build our masterpieces, but we do have obstacles in our winding path of creation.

Things that hold us back may range from poor use of our time to lacking self confidence to difficult seasons in our lives. But what is it you really want to do? What is one thing you can give up to do it?

A while ago, I read a fabulous book, Faithful, Fit, and Fabulous, by Connie Sokol. It changed how I saw my time and that I could make tiny changes that would have a significant impact. I had wanted to read to my children, but the time never seemed consistent or right. The bedtime routine went something like this: brush teeth, get in bed, mom hangs out playing on her phone while kids go to sleep. I decided that I would give up playing on my phone and read to them while they fell asleep. It wasn't that I suddenly had more time or a better time, it was that I gave up something I'd been doing for something that I really wanted. I found that it worked far better than I thought it would.

This week's challenge it to make one tiny change. What is it you really want? One tiny change--what will it be?