I miss summer already. Perhaps it’s a holdback from childhood when the last school bell rang and the doors flung wide to spill kids and teens into a June they finally claimed for themselves. School worked for many people, but I wasn’t one of them. For me, real learning began after those school doors slammed shut behind me.
During summers my mind sparked, ignited because I controlled my education, unfettered by what someone else believed I should learn. Transported by books, bicycles, and blue skies—willing screens I projected a vivid imagination onto—my mind expanded as I chased whatever drew my interest until September closed in. Since those summer days of self-directed exploration, I’ve always considered any learning I’ve accomplished on my own as “summer school,” an educational program driven by someone who had my best interests in mind.
Perhaps you’re like me and felt you didn’t learn the things you really wanted to when you were in school, whether it was high school where classes were chosen for you or college where you acquiesced to parents or bought into society’s urging that the world needed more marketing people. Maybe you feel it’s too late to do anything about it now.
I’m here to tell you it’s never too late, no matter how old you are. You just need to take charge of your own education and enroll yourself into “summer school.”
All of the “lessons from the cockpit” are summer school lessons, insights I’ve learned from living life outside school walls, doing things I’ve wanted to do versus been required to do. I’m thrilled to say I’m in summer school year round, although over the last five months, I think I’ve learned more than ever. This last summer I began writing my novel, an education unto itself. I’ve enjoyed losing myself in the writing, living in the new world I’m creating. But doing so has surfaced old memories, events and experiences I hadn’t thought of in a long while. Many of these events had wedged themselves into the crevices of my mind like old photographs jutting from the pages of a closed book. I’d see a flash of color, but no recollection until I slid the memory from its neglected nook to examine within the light of what I wrote.
Many of the old lessons I explored this summer will make it into the novel. But others will not. So in a nod to my favorite season, and my favorite educational institution, my next few posts will focus on past summer school lessons recently brought to light.
Until the next post, I’d like you to think about what you’ve always wanted to learn, but never did. It does not matter if you think it has any value to society, or as a new career for yourself. The value lies in the fact you want to do it and that is enough.
Leave a comment below for what you’ve always wanted to learn or do, but haven’t yet. Aside from the fact I’d truly like to hear your dreams and desires, announcing it to the world generates a magic that sets events in motion. And if you hear a voice in your head claim you’re too old to pursue your goal, just swat it aside and remember this:
It’s never too late to become the person you are meant to be.
Kim, good to see you here. I think the universe sends us plenty of lessons everyday, but a lot of time we are too rushed to stop and think about them. It’s good that you are doing that. Good luck with Yoga. 🙂
Debbye, thanks for stopping by and glad you enjoy the posts.
Thank you for your insights. I really enjoy reading your blog. Blessings, debgraafsma.wordpress.com
I like this concept – Summer School Lessons. I never went to summer school, so that explains much.
What do I want to learn??? Great question. Perhaps I’ll begin by asking the universe what I need to learn. I hope to learn the lessons presented to me each day – other than that, maybe Yoga. Who am I kidding? heh.
DB – I’m looking forward to you reading it.
Carol – Yes, Dena is a wealth of knowledge as everyone will soon realize when her new book comes out.
Veronica – I have ultimate faith you will get there.
Ceder51 – Yes, I do believe many summer school programs are pressure cookers. That’s why we have to take charge of our own learning. Not sure how much anyone learns in a pressure cooker.
Just be careful on some institutions ideas about "summer school" – if you take a summer school at some universities in New Zealand they are classed as ‘pressure cooker’ because they are regular 12wk Semesters pushed into 6wks 🙂
But on the other hand there are always a way to do those without doing assignments/tests/exams via the Continuing Education programmes usually offered at the same time.
For me Summer is about sorting up what I haven’t managed to sort up during the University double Semester year period 🙂
This post evokes several responses from "inside". I’m drawn to your comment about losing yourself in your writing and how it evokes memories and experiences. When we are truly lost and immersed in what we are doing, we are really "living in the moment", whether it be the present or past and how truly magical that can be. I want to learn many things, though cannot identify too much specifically at this moment. Presently, I am consumed with the business of life (family and work). I do know I want to learn to be at peace. Something I believe takes awareness, acknowledgement, gratitude and a skilled learning of letting go and living in the moment. Once again, thank you for a post that makes us "stop and look inside"
Chris, your Post—this one and every other one—is great and so are the comments from your wonderful crew of fans. I’m fascinated by all the things Dena wants to learn, and I’m sure she’ll learn a great deal of it from reading your work. Of course, it’s hard to imagine that there is anything out there in the universe that she doesn’t know, because she too is a very insightful writer. I enjoy your messages and the comments from your readers. Keep it coming! Thank you.
Christopher,
I have followed my compass and the glow, found my wings and inner hero, taken the leap, escaped my cell, graduated from summer school, my life is rich, and I’m not looking back.
Thank you for it all. You are an excellent writer and I look forward to reading your novel.
Until then.
Dance, Emily, dance. Good to see you last night. Your reading was great.
Great post, Chris. I miss summer already too … those days which seem in youth as though they might last forever. I would like to learn to dance. I am thinking maybe clogging. 🙂 Emily
Bob,
Glad the post gave you pause. Any recipes with oysters in them? I’m ready for the next batch, as well as more interesting conversations with you.
Dena,
I like the coin analogy because, in my mind, it’s impossible to separate the two even though both activities have distinct elements. Learning and doing are really continuous feedback loops as well. Maybe another analogy is a Mobius strip.
I’ve been sitting here for a few minutes, thinking about your question… what do I want to learn? And what keeps popping up is me wondering if there’s a difference between "learning" and "doing"? For example, I want to meditate every day but that’s a "do" not a "learn." I’d like to participate in an archeological dig – more "do." I’d like to get into more weight-lifting training and vegan cooking – do, do, do.
So what would I like to learn? I find it harder to answer. I’d like to learn to read Braille and learn sign language. No idea why, other than I was a HUGE Helen Kellar fan when I was young…. I’d like to learn a kind way to learn to say "no" more often to what I don’t want and "yes" more often to what I do want (even if it scares me). I’d like to learn to be kinder, less judgmental, more encouraging of others. I’d like to learn to better live in the moment and appreciate the small things instead of dreaming about the big things. I’d like to learn more about my relationship with God.
I think the learning and doing are opposite sides of the same coin – can’t really have one without the other. Thoughtful post, as always Chris. Enjoyed it.
Read your latest post and — well, did nothing for about 10 minutes but sit back and think. My head has been buried in the sands of the corporate world for so long it takes me a little longer than many to get to that release point where dreaming is possible. At least you got a few synapses to start igniting. Thanks! I should have seen this post coming based on some of your comments during most recent visit over oysters. Not sure where this is going but I like it. Perhaps a collection of recipes I will leave behind for my kids…
Carol, I’m thrilled your novel is being published. Looking forward to reading it. I just had coffee with Quinn last week and it was great to see her.
Thank you for another great lesson from high in the sky. I’m glad toknow that it’s never too late to live the life you were born to live and to achieve your goals, however high they might fly.
I wrote my first poem when I was seven years old and have always wanted to be a writer, but life intruded. It wasn’t until a few years ago, when we first met in Quinn Dalton’s writing class, that I was able to free myself from other responsibilities and pursue my passion.
Now my novel, WHISPERS FROM ST. MARY’S WELL, is being published and will be available at Amazon.com and other outlets before we leap into a New Year. Set in St. Mary’s County, Maryland, it chronicles the life of a little girl, born in 1851—beneath the veil—a sign that she will experience occasional episodes of clairvoyance. She witnesses her mother’s descent into deep depression and a brutal murder. Virtually orphaned at a young age, she must learn how to raise herself with the help of spiritual allies and a supportive community.
The story has been simmering in my soul for most of my life, and I am finally able to let it soar into the universe. I won Honorable Mention in the West Virginia Emerging Prose Writers’ Contest, which is focused on young, emerging writers. Young does not describe me, but emerging does, because as your brilliant lesson has taught us, "It’s never too late to become the person you are meant to be." Thanks for sharing your inspiring insight.
Very interesting, Robert. There is a singer-songwriter–a minor character–in my novel who is pursuing his dream. He helps the main character make a connection. You will get where you want to go if you don’t give up. I saw you in Big River, so I know you have the talent.
PP, I know you will write that novel one day. Shouldn’t take you long given how much you love to write.
Great post! I’ve always wanted to write a novel… I definitely consider myself a writer, but it would be so wonderful to see something I’ve written bound in a book and sitting on a bookshelf!
Thanks for your encouraging post. I’m in the process of becoming a singer-songwriter. So I’ve heard plenty of discouragement in my head because of my age (I just turned 47). Good to know I’m never to old to pursue my dream. Thanks again and keep us posted on your novel’s progress.