Personally, I am always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught. – Winston Churchill

I am always learning. I love learning. I love acquiring a new skill. But I think it’s really important to come to learning with an attitude of humility, an eagerness to learn, and the patience to listen and absorb. I have been learning this lately in knitting, sewing, but also in conversation. Do I hear what you are saying for the words you say or do I already have an expectation of what you mean to say that skews my listening?

I have realized about myself that I approach new situations with a sense of expectation,  a sense of arrogance or superiority. As well as an impatience to get the learning over with and get the Doing on! This is a character wrinkle that I think I’m going to have to work on.

As much as I love learning how to bake something new, or grow something different, or knit some new thing, I love character learning the best. Even though it is often the most uncomfortable and often, the most painful.

This is what I have learned lately.

-I do not know everything nor do I see the entire picture.

-If I put my doubt and cynicism aside, I can more effectively love people. (which is kinda the point.)

-I am very thankful for my life, my husband, my family and my friends. Very Thankful.

-I think the reaction to a situation is more important than the situation itself.

I know that vague concepts like this are more effectively communicated in a story. What happened, Amanda, to make you write this post? Not one single thing or moment happened, but a culmination of little things and I suppose life in general. But this is not conversationally the right tool to share such things. But I think it is still important enough to share the over-all concept.

So do you think that you have the ability to approach learning with humility? Do you enjoy learning new things? Do you approach situations/people/conversation with expectation or are you already good at listening with fresh ears?

Thank you for listening in on this little post of self-reflection. I hope your weekend lives up to your expectations.