September Ho‘ohana; Lifelong Learning

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[Dick Richards]

A few years ago it struck me that my life was probably about two-thirds over. I could look back and see that the theme of the first third had to do with identity: with separating who I am from the expectations of others and forging a sense of myself. I could see that the theme of the second third had been exploring how I contribute to the human community and developing the perspectives and skills needed to make the best contribution possible for me.

I thought it would be very cool if I could gain some inkling about the theme of the final third at its beginning. I visited, spoke with, and studied with a number of wise elders. It became clear to me that the theme of the final third had to do with harvesting the truly important substance of the first two-thirds, and teaching and communicating them to others, while continuing to grow in my understanding of them and my ability to communicate them: thus three books, new workshops, new focus in coaching and consulting.

One of those elders, poet and potter M C Richards (author of "Centering" and no relation to me) looked me squarley in the eye, her archetypal-crone-like face smiling mischievously, and asked, "So, Dick Richards, are you prepared to be a sage?" The question haunts me.

[Phil Gerbyshak]

Lifelong learning is such a vital process, and yet so many after high school or college never pick up another book for the rest of his/her life. Sad really.

But it's an opportunity for those of us who have, to, as Rosa said, "lead in learning."

At the end of this month, I hope to learn how to do a better job of public speaking, as I will attend my first Toastmasters meeting on 9/14. Here's to learning!

[Rosa]

Such trusting sharing with us Dick, thank you!
I do think the journey you describe is one which rings very familiar to most of us when we take a look back at our lives. About your very last line: why does it “haunt” you? I would say it energizes you and challenges you, but also has the potential to soften and calm you.
I would also say it suits you.
Aloha kaua e, Rosa
---

Good for you Phil!
Even with all the speaking I already do, I am seriously considering joining a local ToastMistress organization myself --- I have to find one! With all that Adrian, John, and Steve have written about ToastMasters it becomes more and more irresistible to me, both to improve upon my own speaking, and because their organization mission is so appealing to me. Adrian had shared with me that their mission is: “to provide a positive and supportive learning environment in which every member has the opportunity to develop communication and leadership skills which in turn foster self-confidence and personal growth.”
Then of course there is the potential for relationship and community. Great learning goal Phil, and thank you for the added push...
Me ke aloha, Rosa

Ho‘ohana Community: Phil wrote a really terrific post about his personal learning here:
http://makeitgreat.blogspot.com/2005/08/want-key-to-making-it-great-learn.html

[Yvonne DiVita]

Learning is fundamental to breathing, don't you think, Rosa? I always learn so much from you, from your writing and from the so marvelous interaction of your growing community. You've given me something to contemplate...I will give this careful thought before writing. As usual, you challenge us (me!) to reflect on what's happening to the inner me, as opposed to the outer me.

Interesting...

[timage]

Rosa - What a great theme for the "back to school" season. I have been reflecting on my own learning and the process that I am going..err...growing through. As you know, I work with student leaders. It is a fine balance to encourage them to lead, as well as, to learn. I believe that one can learn without having to lead, but one cannot lead without being a learner. Lifelong leaders are also lifelong learners.

As a leader, I learned a long time ago that a person must PLAN for their own growth. It doesn't happen automatically. So I join you in your quest to encourage myself and others to become "students" in our own learning environments.

[Rosa]

Yes Yvonne, I would absolutely agree with you; especially when I consider the connection to aloha and our sharing of “the breath of life,” for I do believe we learn best via the connections we have with other people: those we share our lives with become our best mentors and teachers.

Do you suppose that’s why contemplation can be tougher at times, or if not tougher, take longer, because we tend to do that alone, with only the walls of our own brains to echo back at us? Positive feedback loops are so much more fulfilling with others.

---
Aloha Tim, so good to hear from you! I was thinking of you when I was in Prescott with my son, imagining what the start of the school year looked and felt like for you in your neck of the woods. At ERAU I had the stimulating good fortune to meet the officers of their Student Government Assn in what they called a “Straight Talk” session. Seeing how these students so naturally and confidently assume what they see as their responsibility for leadership was both inspiring and comforting: They truly gave me the impression that they will be equipped to deal with whatever future we have hurled at them.

I have never before put the words “lifelong” and “leaders” together, and yet seeing you do so here, makes me wonder why not, for it really does open up an entirely new realm of thought: it raises the bar.

Thank you both for such great comments; I am looking forward to the great writing/ sharing/ learning I KNOW you both have coming! Rosa

[Dick Richards]

Thank you Rosa for the prod about "haunting." I meant it in the sense that Norman Maclean uses it in the last line of "A River Runs Through It" (one of my all time favorites). The line is, "I am haunted by waters."

In that sense you are quite right to call it energizing and challenging. The question haunts me in that way -- it calls rather than spooks.

[Susanne Nyrop]

Lifelong learning? yes, that's me, too!

I've often felt that I was wasting part of my many school years, and that I could have made a stronger effort back then, but what did a wild teenager care about getting grades and doing homework? When I graduated, there was a translocation ceremony where some of us received a modest book prize, given "for good work done outside the clasroom". That was right up my alley - we were three girls who had spent about a hundred hours, restoring the old school library, earning a neat sum of extra pocket money. We were a handful of students hwo arranged an art exhibit with student oeuvres; mine were a group of prints created last minute, the evening before. We had worked backstage with decorations and costumes for the yearly drama play, we started a film club and a book club, wrote articles for the student paper and the year book - but sometimes we were too exhausted by all these extracurricular activities to do our homework!

And, by then we did not have the internet...
Today, I find that I'm taking sort of a revenge; I cannot get tired of learning new things, so many that I sometimes feel I could stay awake for days without a need to stop!

Somehow I have lost sight of this month's Ho'oana, and I still feel I would like to read Rosa's MWA once more before I start writing my personal review of the book. MY reason for coming back just tonight was that I needed to refer a friend to MWA and see how to catch up. So good to know that this enlightening conversation will stay, and I can get back reading more next time I have nothing urgent to do. Hm. Oh - and for the homework part? I'm actually procrastinating because I've a deadline!

So I guess I'd better get offline and just write what needs to get written!

yours
Sus