Slow Learner

When I was very young, the school system informed my parents that I was a "slow learner." As I grew older, they said just the opposite. I really wasn't doing anything different, so which categorization was more correct?

Surprise, surprise, they were dead wrong both times. No, in fact it's obvious that I'm a non-learner. I can prove this. How many opportunities have I had today for learning. Dozens? Hundreds? Now multiply that by the number of days that I've been alive. And how many experiences have I actually learned from? You see my point.

But wouldn't it be great if I could be a slow learner. If all of my experiences gradually improved my awareness and my character. If listening to someone's beliefs was never a waste of time. If I viewed learning as a process rather than a goal. If I always sought perfection but could be pleased with mere progress.

If I could be a SlowLearner, that would also imply that I:

Remember the things I've learned and integrate them into my actions
Have patience to devote the time necessary to really learn a subject
Seek out the experts on a subject and absorb everything I can from them
Find value in many different sources
Am not afraid of being called slow, freeing me to learn subjects that don't fall within my natural talents
Accept advice graciously
Take time to understand another viewpoint whether or not I agree with it
Am better able to help others learn; I'd be more aware of the steps of the learning process

Of course, there's such a thing as being too slow. Look how many years it took me to realize that I want to try to be a SlowLearner. Hey, I might be one by now if I'd realized this sooner! Oh wait, it's not about being, it's about becoming, isn't it :)

--KayJohansen

Or could it be about being, and becoming is describing an expectation?

SlowLearner is also a book by ThomasPynchon. ISBN 0316724432

Cool! I had no idea. Upon investigation of this book, one quote from the Introduction struck me in particular:

: "Do not underestimate the shallowness of my understanding."

--KayJohansen

There is also value in forgetting.

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