Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. Henry Ford
I’m reading a novel that brings up repeatedly a good point about life in general – that of always being interested in learning – a new skill, a new era of history, a new language – something to keep the brain active, curious, useful.
At one point in this book, the main character loses someone close to her who happened to be her consistent companion in seeking, pursuing, engaging in life and all there is to know. Without the almost daily discussions swirling around a new topic where both could learn, she felt adrift in life, not finding any moorings in simple things like chores and pleasures of life – cooking, shopping, reading, music, art. She wanted to learn constantly and improve her mind, not content at simply enjoying the gifts that daily life brought to her.
As most often when I read novels, I find challenging thoughts that make me pause and consider my own perspectives on life. So I took a deep dive into an assessment of how I managed my days, what was required of me, what were daily options, if I ended up satisfied at the end of most days and eager to begin when I woke up. Was I spending time in continuing to grow through learning new things, accepting new challenges, finding new ways to be creative? Or was I dawdling my way through the days, doing only what was demanded of me, mundane or not, and adding in some touches of activities I greatly enjoy?
If I’m going to cook, am I learning about new ingredients, different cultures’ cuisines, healthy meals for my age? If I’m enjoying looking at Impressionist art, am I learning about the artists, their lives and their commitment to bring a new form of expression to life? If I’m spending time praying am I digging deep in my heart to discover what God wants from me in my prayer time? If I’m doing my tasks for the ministry I work with in Europe, am I learning new strategies to be more efficient and improve the results?
My answers were revealing – and a realization flooded over me that in most cases, if I took tasks, chores and pleasures one by one, I was rather content with the status quo and not at all eager to “keep learning.” I was missing that “extra” step in my routines, my surprises, my commitments – the step that would push me to continue to expand horizons, bring unique qualities to different aspects of life, ask questions that forced me to seek answers. I had lost a bit of my inquisitive nature and I wanted it back!
So example of my renewed quest for learning…I did mission work in both Haiti and Cuba, two very desperate nations at the moment. Instead of just praying for them, I dug into what the reality of life is in each of these countries so I could pray more specifically. It was quite honestly a depressing task as fact after fact revealed the daily challenges their citizens have on their plate – hunger, lack of food and sporadic electricity in Cuba, gang violence, poverty, lack of education and health care in Haiti. But my learning helped me pray in much better ways for the people of these countries.
Take a moment – you have it – and ask yourself if you are still learning or if in reality, you have stopped learning. Perhaps it’s that retirement mentality – the one that says we no longer need to work hard, but just enjoy. And perhaps the honest truth is there is no longer a desire to keep learning – that it doesn’t bring you joy – and you are content and satisfied with the way things are. But I challenge you to take at least a shallow dive, if not a deep one, to see what else is out there for you!
Don't Waste Your Retirement 