Thought of the Day - December 17th

Knowledge is the treasure of a wise man.

- William Penn


Education is the most important thing we have has humans. We pass down our growth and discoveries in every category of life. No one can speak higher of the need to get an education then I. However, here is a shock. I do not believe that it necessarily need to be within a four year institution.

Depending on your career choices, an internship or apprenticeship may be far more valuable in your time spent. In this case, education needs to be gained to fill in the gaps that such types of informal education bring. Our libraries are full of human treasure of thought, insight and wisdom. Colleges offer day type seminar courses. Then of course, there is here on the internet. Be careful here, anyone can put up a website. Make sure your source of information is legetimate. For example, when I wrote my blog on 2012, I made sure to research on sites like NASA and not fan mail from the film.

Two small points I wish to make on this topic today. The first it that there is one area where man refuses to learn from past great minds. When it comes to happiness and personal success, it seems like we are forever reinventing the wheel. Yet centuries of great minds have told us many such things. Early to bed.... or Neither a lender or borrow be.... We know the sayings, yet we do not follow them. We think somehow the formula for us is different. Even I fell prayer to this view of terminal uniquiness. How could someone know from 200 years ago what would possibly help me find happiness today? But the truth is, they did and do. Things such as not taking others BS personally or to understand that each individual has value and has nothing to prove to anyone but themselves. People go to seminars to learn more about success and happiness and learn the concept of self-affirmation. A free topic taught everywhere yet somehow not believed.

The other point I would like to make is that many individuals do not keep learning past retirement. Without continue stimulation, the mind whithers far more easily. This lack of mental challenge and/or goals for after retirement has led to a quick end for many of our older citizens. If you are approaching retirement, NEVER stop learning. Find a topic that interests you and get involved. Do not stop working and then wither away in front of a television set. Your generation has too much to offer to us younger individuals who still are living with the misconception that time old wisdom couldn't possibly apply to us!