At the end of the day, one of my favorite questions to ask myself is, “What did I learn today?” Have you ever pondered that question as the day draws to an end? Or how about this one, “What contribution did I make today?” Whether at work, in the community, or at home, what did you do that made a contribution to others, that made a difference?
Those aren’t always comfortable questions–especially if you just walked through your normal routine like a zombie. Most days, though, if you’re open to new ideas and are honest with yourself, you’ll realize that your day was far from ordinary.
If, however, you have been walking zombie-like through your days, just surviving, just doing the minimum to get by, just gettin’ through, then it’s time for a wake up call. Each moment is precious–passing into eternity never to exist again.
What really woke me up to how much I was missing of what goes on around me was when I ended up in a walking cast after partially tearing a ligament in my ankle. I didn’t have much sick leave, so I made my way slowly the half mile from the train station to work each day in downtown Chicago. I had to stop frequently to rest along the way. Things I had just zoomed past when I was fully mobile gained my attention now that I moved so slowly. People and places I had simply walked past without noticing captivated me and drew my attention away from the pain I was feeling. Complete strangers would stop to offer me encouragement along the way. I realized that this was simply a passing inconvenience for me, but was a daily reality for others that I now took notice of. I found myself wondering how I could have missed so many interesting things–things I went past every single day (twice!). I missed them because I was just zipping through my routine, rushing along my way to somewhere I had to be, becoming a robot in the midst of wonder.
That experience woke me up. Brief as it was, it had a definite affect on my outlook. I find myself often remembering those slow, wonder-filled days, and remind myself to stay awake, alert, and attentive to all the fascinating people and things around me every day. Wake up, pay attention, soak up new ideas and experiences.
I want to encourage you to make the most of your time and energy. Wake yourself up. Pay attention to what’s going on around you. Look for and take advantage of opportunities to learn something new. Look for and take action on things you can do to make a difference to those around you. Live life excited, energetic, expectant!
Blessings,
Cindy
Tags: Lifelong Learning