Lessons in Gratitude Day 118

I spent the better part of the day reading, writing, thinking and planning. I realized that those are four things (well at least the first three) that I really enjoy doing. I do not take for granted the ability to do any of those things–there are simply too many people in the world who have limited access to some of the educational experiences I’ve been fortunate to have. Sometimes over the months that I’ve been without an 8 to 5 job I’ve forgotten that I am a learner, a teacher, a scholar, in addition to other things I might claim (or reject). I have loved learning since I was a child. I’m grateful not just for the opportunities I’ve had for formal education, but also for being someone who loves learning of all kinds.

To that end, tonight I express simple gratitude: for teachers throughout elementary and secondary school who encouraged my love of learning. For those rare college professors I had during my undergraduate years who made their subjects come to life (I’m not referring to my chemistry professors here…), I am grateful. I can remember my freshman English composition instructor in college asking me what my major was. When I told her I was studying animal science, she shook her head, tsking, telling me I that my writing skills were quite good and I should switch to the English department. Alas, had I listened to her I suspect my life would have been very different. But of course, had I done a lot of things differently my life would have been different. It is kind of silly to speculate about what might have been. The fact is, I already didn’t make that decision and like I mentioned the other day, the choice was not right or wrong (to stick with animal science rather than switch to English) it was simply one choice of many I’ve made and will make over the course of my lifetime.

I am grateful for those learning opportunities I’ve taken advantage of that have happened outside of formal classrooms. So many additional skills I’ve learned and developed in a wide variety of subject areas. Taken altogether, they probably seem like a very random assortment of knowledge and wisdom, but I wouldn’t trade any of them or give any of those opportunities back. All that learning are like threads woven into the tapestry of my life; without them, the pattern would incomplete and whole pieces would unravel.

My mother set an example for me about loving to learn new things. After working as a nurse for many years, she’d eventually stopped working to stay home and take care of her family. Her many “hobbies” became passions. She was a seamstress and a craftsperson and loved learning new skills, particularly if they involved fabric or yarn. She sewed all kinds of things–clothes, draperies, table linens, stuffed animals. She quilted, made hats, knitted and crocheted by hand and knitted by machine, embroidered, wove, etc. I used to laugh at all the unfinished projects she had. After she died we sorted through hundreds, maybe thousands of yards of fabric, dozens of patterns, hundreds of skeins of yarn, thousands of spools of thread, not to mention tons of buttons, zippers, and other notions. I get some of my “craftiness” from her, though my handiwork tends toward woodworking, wire sculpting, gardening, and landscaping. She also studied and taught yoga–when she was in her 50s. She had hoped to open an ashram one day. Interestingly, she both taught and took classes at a place called, “The Forever Learning Institute.” It totally makes sense that she would hang out there. As someone who considers herself a lifelong learning, I imagine I’d like to hang out there too.

I am grateful for all the knowledge, information, wisdom, techniques, etc. that I’ve been introduced to throughout my life. I used to ask God, “how on Earth will I ever use half this stuff?” My knowledge base and skill sets seemed wildly divergent and random. But I’ve come to realize that nothing is really ever wasted; that everything I’ve learned or been exposed to has had its purpose. I look forward to more reading and writing and thinking (and singing, playing, songwriting, etc.) in the days, weeks, and months to come. Stay tuned!