HOW TO BECOME A LIFELONG LEARNER

1. START WITH YOUR ATTITUDE

          

          Lifelong learning begins with a heart that desires changes, 

          wisdom, and application.

2. ASK QUESTIONS

          

          Learners ask good questions. They possess an insatiable curiosity- 

          a longing to know, discover, inquire. Ask questions that get below 

          the surface.

3. JOIN OTHERS

            Collaborate learning -in classes, small groups, with friends and 

          colleagues -allows us to benefit from diverse perspectives and

          approaches. People are a gold mine of learning that is tapped through 

          conversation.

4. CHECK OUT THE OTHER SIDE

          Take time to examine and understand another point of view, even if 

          it radically contradicts yours. You may see things in a new light, or 

          you may have your old convictions strengthened. Personal conviction  

          that have been tested remain flabby.

5. READ BROADLY

          Include a diversity of books, author, and topics. Resist the 

          temptation to read only those books that reinforce what you 

          already believe.

6. KEEP A JOURNAL

          Recording what we learn captures our growth in wisdom.

7. EXPERIMENT

          Try new approaches and ideas. Age does not affect your ability to 

          learn. An eighty-year-old can learn to surf the net like the 

          eighteen-year-old.

8. APPLY WHAT YOU KNOW

           Our depth of understanding is often directly related to our ability

           to apply what we've learned. Application takes knowledge from 

           the head to the heart.

LIFE

When i was a child, one of the most difficult question that came out of my mind is "What is life?". By consulting Mr. Webster, he defines life as "(1)a characteristic state or mode of  living; (2) the course of existence of an individual;the action and events that occur in living" while Wikipedia says "Life is a characteristic that distinguishes objects that have self-sustaining biological processes from those which do not" which are all correct. On the other hand, there is still no specific or universal definition for life. Until now, to define life in an equivocal or specific term is still challenge for the scientists as the definition should be sufficiently broad that would define life with which we are familiar. 


Before we get started, i just want to cite some words from an interview of a seventy-two-year-old woman about life. 
         
                            "If I had my life to live again, I would dare to make more mistakes 
                              next time. I would relax. I would  be sillier. I would take fewer things
                              seriously... I would eat more ice cream and less beans. I would perhaps 
                              have more troubles but fewer imaginary ones. You see, I'm one of those 
                              people who lived seriously and sanely hour after hour, day after day. 
                              I've been one of those persons who never went away any place without a
                              thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat, and a parachute. If I had
                              to do it over again. I'd travel lighter."


These are some of the true to life experiences that other people may encounter at the latter part of their lives. We can avoid this by integrating our life into one great,productive and meaningful whole. How to do it? First we must understand whats the meaning of life is. For me, life is not about achieving power, wealth, or anything. Life for me is about love, loving and being loved. It is true that anything you do without love is useless. To live a useful and meaningful life, live with love. 


Everybody wants a successful and meaningful life. They will do their best to achieve it. It is a reality that people keep living  their life to the fullest is the preoccupation with one or two aspects of daily life. People's goal are to try to be successful in everyday life. You cannot call your self successful when your business or career is growing but your family is failing. Success in life must be balance in terms of priorities, attitude and goals. Speaking of priorities, you should ask me what to prioritize first?. 


Well, for me the best paradigm in terms of prioritization is the 10 commandments of our Lord God which were written in the Book of Exodus chapter 20 of the Old Testament in the Holy Bible. If you will read that chapter, the first commandment was to serve and love God and the  other commandments pertains to love your family, neighbors and other people around you as well as your self. To have the best priorities in life, always put God first. What ever your perception of God is, He must be the center of your life to provide you with the healthy balance life you need. Don't ever put your self first, you will end up frustrated. You are not God, and you are not good and no one is. So put God first in your priorities. Second is your family and your self and third is your neighbor or other people.
  
Probably, right now you know whats the true meaning of life and how to live successfully with it ? And if you do all of this things starting today you are starting a meaningful and successful life and erase any " I wish I would have's" questions in your mind.


Have a meaningful life.
                              

In the beginning...

Making this first blog is a very exciting experience for me, even though this is my first one i hope that i can share everyone in the blogger community the ideas, experience, knowledge that i have learned in life. As a blog-master, i will try to share all my blogs as fun as it be and reading my blogs are intended to be an enjoyable experience. Come and join me as we travel and explore how to be successful in life.