Ignorance is the curse of God,
Knowledge the wing,
wherewith we fly to heaven
– William Shakespeare (1564-1616) Henry VI, I, 2:3-4
Just because you’re out of school doesn’t mean learning should stop. If you’re not interested in taking formal classes to better your education, may I suggest some of the following:
Meet with a group that is either like-minded so you can enhance your knowledge in a certain subject, or better, join a group with the opposite leaning to understand why they think they way they do. I belong to a group called the Glass Onion. We are a diverse group of believers ranging from Strong Christians to Atheists, with all the other religions in the middle of the spectrum. We gather to discuss issues of the day, stem cell research, adoption, the power of meditation or prayer, etc...and the list is endless. I enjoying hearing everyone’s views for two reasons: 1) sometimes I learn a new fact or thought that helps shape or evolve my own opinion, and 2) sometimes it’s important for me to understand how the other side thinks in order to sharpen my debating skills. I try to participate with the first purpose in mind. It’s always important to be open-minded.
There are a variety of groups to participate. Look for them on Facebook, Craig’s List or your local paper.
Make it a goal to read a minimum of one book a month, regardless of the subject. It doesn’t matter if it’s a romance novel or a text book on a subject you never got to study in school, but you are still curious. Who knows, you might learn a few new vocabulary words or better understand certain theories. For some good examples, check out my recommended reading list for 2010 (blog dated 1/11/10)
Traveling is one of the BEST educators. Remember all those things you were supposed to learn in high school? Now they can come to life. I understand more facts and tidbits about the Civil War because I’ve toured some of the battle fields. I have a better understanding of the issues developing countries are facing because I’ve now seen first hand what the problems are.
