Life Long Learner

Life long learner. Are you one? I hope so. One of the things I enjoyed most about being an elementary school teacher was the opportunity to be always learning something new. My classroom was full of books inviting new knowledge at every turn. Now that I am no longer in the classroom, I challenge myself to continue learning. My i pad is my constant companion for quick referencing. I read the paper each morning, listen to podcasts, visit the library regularly, watch You Tube videos, and even take free college courses on iTunes U. I find that there is an abundance of new things to learn and do made easily available to us if only we embrace these opportunities. If you are looking for new adventures you might find them through the vehicle of being a life long learner. 

Cooper and the Dining Room

Cooper and the dining room. Cooper has decided that the dining room is his room, his favorite place in the house. From day one when he refused to eat his kibbles in the kitchen with the other dogs, he made it known that he prefered a carpeted area to dine in. His toy box is in the den and his toys begin there, but usually end up in the dining room. I've even found his tiny "Lambchop" sheep slung up onto the table itself. Don't ask me how this happens, but it has happened twice so far. One thing for sure, this little guy loves his toys, loves to play and prefers his food soften before he dines in the dining room. Spoiled? I fear so!

Adventure

Adventure. Do you have a sense of adventure? I find myself as an adult reluctant to take on adventure. I seem more content to stay in the comfort of my own home. I wonder why that is? As a child I woke up each morning ready to tackle the next adventure. My mind was quick to embrace imagination and possibilities. I remember mixing spices in a Dixie cup after checking a book out of the library on Chemistry. I hoped to invent the next great thing. One summer I caught and housed toads in an old Lance jar from our neighbor's gas station. My best friend and I created our own Bat Cave in her storage area including high tech devices made from cardboard boxes and knobs. I was quick to take on the task of director  and writer of the neighborhood play, Hansel and Gretel. As I continue on my journey of life I want to be reminded of those younger years when I always seemed to be looking for something new to embrace. I want to keep in mind the words of Helen Keller. "Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing at all."

Common Sense

Common sense. What has happened to good old common sense? Where did it go? Every day I read the news I can't believe what is happening in this world. When I was growing up there were rules, improprieties, expectations of behavior. Those boundaries kept us in check. Never for one moment did we think we could do whatever we wanted just because we wanted to. There was also moderation in ideas. Today everyone seems to have such extreme ideas and there is no common ground. If you disagree you are vilified. I miss those days of respect, manners and basic common sense.

Crossword Puzzles

Crossword puzzles. I have just started doing them in an attempt to exercise my brain, and I'm finding them to be actually quite fun, perhaps even a little relaxing. I'm definitely a word person as opposed to numbers. I like games like Scrabble where I work with letters and words. I guess that really does go hand-in-hand with writing. Crafting sentences and then paragraphs seems to bring me fulfillment. My grandmother used to enjoy crossword puzzles. She was actually quite good at them and I was in awe of her vocabulary. She stayed quite sharp into her older years, although, her advice to me was to never grow old. I may have little control over that destiny, but I've found a new way to enjoy my time.

Rolling Bandages

Rolling bandages. I've been watching an excellent tv show entitled  Call the Midwife. It is the story of a group of midwives serving a poor town in England in the late 1950's. One of the characters is an older nun named Sister Monica Joan. She is in the throes of dimentia and struggling to find her place amongst the other midwives. Her purpose in life is no longer clearly defined and she is struggling both mentally and emotionally. Her aha moment comes when she realizes that she could still roll bandages as a way of contributing. Her face lights up when she announces her decision. Unfortunately, in the  late 1950's bandages come already rolled. In a sweet act of kindness the other nurses are seen unrolling each prerolled bandage and Sister Monica Joan is shown sitting in the sun rolling bandages to her heart's content. It is easy in our youth to dream about purpose, in our early and middle adult years to be overwhelmed by purpose, but in our later years to struggle to find that purpose again. I hope to continue to find my "rolling bandages" moments as I continue on life's journey.

Treats

Treats. I'm really not very good at treating myself. I wonder why? In Gretchen Rubin's new book, Better Than Before, she talks about the value of treats in habit formation. Treats don't necessarily have to be something fattening or expensive. They are just small indulgences along the way of life. Treat yourself today.