| We ought not to look back unless it is to derive useful | | | | willingness to keep growing. We must go forward with |
| lessons from past errors, and for the purpose of | | | | an open, hungry mind and curiosity about life. |
| profiting by dear-brought experience. George | | | | Lesson Plans |
| Washington, First president of US (1732 - 1799) | | | | School teachers have lesson plans. Create your own. |
| The best lessons not only give us information but have | | | | In the book Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist |
| us grow. We learn best when we are willing students. | | | | Explores the Hidden Side of Everything, the authors, by |
| We won't always know when we are right in the | | | | Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner try to explore |
| middle of a life lesson. It is only later with time and | | | | the hidden side of everything through demonstrating |
| hindsight do we realize what we learned. | | | | that the modern world is knowable if the right |
| What are we learning? | | | | questions are asked. The point is to take standard |
| First, we learned how to walk, talk and how to ask for | | | | assumptions and look at them from a completely |
| what we needed. Later we learned simple things; how | | | | different angle. There may be facts but are the facts |
| to tie a shoe, write our names, eat with a knife and | | | | all we have to go on in explaining anything? If you |
| fork. We acquire skills over the course of our life. Daily | | | | were to take the "facts" of your life and turn them |
| we do normal things; we go to work, attend school, | | | | upside down what might you discover? Ask these |
| and socialize with friends. We are doing what we are | | | | questions. |
| meant to do, we are living. | | | | - What did you imagine you would grow up to |
| Learning never ends. | | | | become? Did you think you would grow up and |
| Our grade teacher is no longer breathing down our | | | | become a ballerina, a firefighter? |
| necks forcing us to study. Nonetheless study continues. | | | | - Did you imagine you would grow up and have a |
| Sometimes the lessons smack us upside the head | | | | fancy wedding with lots of lace and a life partner? |
| with their impact. Others times it is a slow subtle | | | | - What were your hopes and dreams? |
| journey to enlightenment. The best teachers are ones | | | | - How have you lived up to these expectations? |
| that take us on a journey. The best students are the | | | | Maybe you discovered your talent was not ballet but in |
| ones who are willing to explore. | | | | science. The fancy wedding is instead a solo life lived |
| The idea of life as lesson can chafe at us. We may | | | | in the mountains. Look at your life with new eyes and |
| resist this idea but we constantly change. We acquire | | | | new questions. What would you like to learn now? |
| knowledge and information as we go along without | | | | What would you like to do? |
| realizing it. But we don't always grow. We gather | | | | Create a lesson plan for your life going forward. Be |
| information and don't use it wisely. A small time crook | | | | sure to add in qualities you would like to acquire. This |
| can learn more about crime in prison then out on the | | | | lesson plan is in your control. Have fun with it. Make |
| streets. We can live in darkness, or we can evolve. | | | | sure to give yourself a good grade for effort. |
| What lessons do we want to learn? | | | | Our life lessons can empower us. Ask questions. Look |
| We have the power to make choices in our lives. We | | | | for new information and transform you life one lesson |
| can choose to take advantage of the wealth of | | | | at a time. Always be ready to be surprised by what |
| knowledge and learn all we need. What is needed is a | | | | life has to offer. |