In love with learning
I’ve been thinking a lot about my dad these past few days. Yesterday marked four years since he passed away – suddenly, unexpectedly. Which is likely how he would’ve wanted, if he’d had a say in it. Never one for drama, my dad had a practical streak a kilometer wide. Even in passing, he kept things simple.
As always, when I think of him, I reflect on how much he taught me. Which brings me to another of my core values: continuous learning.
Truth be told, I don’t know as much about my dad’s early years as I’d like. We had our ups and downs – our moments of connection and our moments of stubborn silence. That meant some questions never got asked, and some stories stayed untold. But one thing I do know: my dad left school and home young, and formal education never played a big role in his life. And yet, he was one of the most voracious learners I’ve ever known.
Technology? He was one of the first people I knew to get a computer, back when owning one practically made you a mad scientist. He taught himself investing, mastered the art of fixing absolutely anything, took up gardening like it was his life’s calling, and – curveball alert – became an avid rug hooker. (Yup, you read that right.) He traveled. His career in the Air Force sent him around the world, and even later in life, he remained fascinated by other cultures, foreign films, and international TV. His curiosity was endless.
And he was always reading – fiction, nonfiction, magazines, newspapers. I’ll never forget our weekly library trips, where we’d load up on books like we were stocking a bunker for the apocalypse.
Looking back, I realize that’s where my own love of learning started. Thanks, Dad.
For me, continuous learning means embracing curiosity—about myself, about others, and about the world. It’s peeling back the layers to understand what makes us tick. It’s diving headfirst into new challenges, just like I have in my career—from daycare worker to professional speaker and entrepreneur, zigzagging through 35 years of diverse roles along the way.
The more I learn, the more open-minded I become. The more I learn, the more life excites me. And the more I learn, the more I can help others learn, too—and that’s always been one of my favorite things.
So today, I invite you to reflect on where learning fits into your life and how you nurture that curiosity. And if you can—call your dad. It’s never too late to keep learning.
#wellness #continuouslearning #livingyourvalues
