Knowledge Masters Fear

Too bad the sky doesn’t show the same captivating colors of dusk during times when the sun is high in the sky. Even a boring setting like the one depicted from my back patio can turn magical.

Do you think you could explain what a sunset or sunrise looks like to someone who never experienced one for themselves? Could you explain it so well that they could pass a test without having seen one?

What kind of learner are you? Do you respond better to learning from visuals? From text? From demonstration?

I don’t respond well to any of the above, and forget taking tests . . . I was one of those who had test-stress and never did well on them. Yeah, I’m one of those people who rarely reads directions.

I must sound pretty dumb, but there is another way to learn, and it’s where I thrive best. I learn by experience . . . or doing.

I took several writing classes back in the day, but I found that I’d get confused while writing my own work. I’d go back to look at my notes from class and try to implement the lessons, but then my writing seemed stilted. Thankfully, I joined a critique group and things began to change. My writing gets marked in places that could use improvement, and then I’m able to learn by messing around with the sentences myself. I learn by doing.

Gone are the days of apprentices. Well, they’re mostly gone. There are internships, but higher education usually comes first.

Of course, some professions need a lot of teaching before doing. We wouldn’t want a surgeon learning by doing without the proper education first, but eventually they do have to use that knife on a live person.

I’ve been wanting to learn something recently, but knew I’d retain very little if I took a class. So, I decided to call up an expert I knew and ask him to do hands-on teaching lessons with me.

First I need to explain something. The new lesson I wanted to learn was something I feared, and I knew that knowledge could help master the fear. On my first lesson, my pounding heart almost got in the way of remaining steady. By the third lesson, I felt less fearful, but still needed more confidence in my ability. Now, I need to practice in order to master the fear. See the photo below to see what it is I’m learning.

Gun safety

Thanks to my Dad, for being such a patient teacher.

Which way do you learn best?

 

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