The Learning of a Lesson

How do we learn lessons? In school we are given books and projects to show us things that we are to absorb.  Recalling this way of learning makes me take note that there is so much that I don't recall from this type of experience. It was digested then regurgitated for a quiz, test or paper. But what did it mean?  Not much, apparently.

I think there are a good number of us that live and learn experientially. This requires that we are immersed in situations, feelings, reactions, observations, actions, thoughts and perceptions.  This seems to be the most effective way of learning, whether we desire the lesson or not.

Tonight I met with a friend who I have shared a separate but similar experience with. I won't go into details but she expressed to me what she learned from it. Though the experience was virtually the same as mine, we each took something different from it.  I was impressed with her outlook and her take on the situation. It was obvious her conceptualization was that of a realist. Mine comes from an emotional base. She shared with me things that I had not thought of and it is requiring me to look deeper within myself at how I process my experiences and the world around me.

Because the way I conceptualize my world is emotional, I am coming to the realization that I need to develop the ability to be purely observational.  Emotionality can make a person reactionary.  Sometimes it is the ability to observe that is the greatest gift.  The gift of time. The gift of logically developing avenues of recourse.  The ability to literally just sit in the moment.

Sitting with my friend, I thought about all the things I need answers for in my life. However, just acknowledging that perhaps this is the time to just observe, gave me some peace.  There is no way I can have my questions answered tonight, as I sit drinking a glass of wine. Why not sit in the moment? If I don't have the answer, wondering when it will come isn't going to make it come any faster.

So here I am. I'm not going to wonder what will be. I am just going to sit, wait and observe.  Who knows? I may actually learn something and the answer may lie within that lesson.