Stay Connected

This past weekend I was part of the virtual graduation ceremony for my mother. She received her Doctor of Theology degree. I am extremely proud of her accomplishment. When I asked her what next? She said she is thinking about counseling but she will have to do a 6 months program to be a certified counselor. She is truly a lifelong learner.

There are several benefits to lifelong learning^1,2:

1. It sharpens our minds – Continuous learning helps keep the mind sharp and improves memory. My mom still memorizes telephone numbers like we did before cell phones arrived.
2. It helps us adapt to change – When my mother started her program, she was in the classroom and then COVID hit and her classes became virtual. She had to become proficient with Zoom quickly.
3. It helps us make new friends and establish valuable relationships – During the ceremony, she was telling me about the wonderful people she met. I was able to meet her advisor and some of her classmates.
4. It allows us to get a bigger paycheck – Although my mother has retired, for the rest of us in the job market, it can lead to a job promotion.
5. It makes for an enriching and fulfilling life – You take what you learn and you are able to share your knowledge with the world.

In his 1931 book titled, Moving Forward, Henry Ford states the following:

Anyone who stops learning is old – whether this happens at twenty or at eighty. Anyone who keeps on learning not only remains young but becomes constantly more valuable – regardless of physical capacity.

This should motivate all of us to be lifelong learners. It is the best anti-aging remedy available.

¹Marjan Laal, Peymen Salamti, Lifelong learning; Why do we need it? Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, Vol. 31, 2012, 399-403

²Marjan Laal, Benefits of Lifelong learning, Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, Vol. 46, 2012, 4268 -4272