Joyful Jubilant Learning

A Scandalous Peek Inside One Woman's Learning

2008-07-25T01:00:00-10:00

Bang Bang! It’s Rapid Fire Learning time.

Time for a short, sharp peek into my weird world of learning this month.

Five things I’ve learned this month are:

Words are Better than Pictures

I am entranced by how others can see beauty and inspiration in pictures. I appreciate what they’ve shared. But I STILL love a word picture better! Love to write ‘em, love to read ‘em, love to imagine ‘em by myself! That’s why I like JJL. Contributors here always deliver the pictures (words and images) in spades!

(Sorry all! Have I let the team down by still preferring words?)

Better to Build on Strengths Than Whip Yourself about Weaknesses

At last I’ve caught up with Rosa’s and David Zinger's recommendations to read Marcus Buckingham’s book Now Discover Your Strengths. I like his contention that we, as individuals and leaders, focus on fixing weaknesses. It just makes sense that it’s easier and more productive to focus on natural talents and building those strengths.

(Can you tell I’m trying to catch up on a few things at the moment? I think Rosa only threw down the challenge to work through this book back in March 2007! Alright, I’m GETTING there!)

Done’s Better Than Perfect

The world doesn’t fall in, if you get things just done, rather than done perfectly! The extra time you spend on honing the last 20% of something to an exquisite perfection will probably not change the outcome significantly!

(Ooooo! This is a Biggy! And scarey for those of us with Perfection genes.)

Computers are Very Useful

I practically threw a party when I realised I could not only successfully burn info to a CD but actually get my printer to print a label on it.

(Lucky you can’t see me doing a little happy dance as I chant my way around the room singing “I’ve got a new skill.” Yes I know it’s sad and pathetic!)

Personal Sustainability Rocks

Choosing to soothe strong feelings (eg. anxiety, frustration etc) with a distraction, means you have much more energy to face the rest of the day.

(That means I've got more time for catching up on my life and my loves. Seems like a win to me.)

So. Not as scandalous as you'd hoped?

Well then, go on and out-scandal me!

You can start bragging right now!

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When not engrossed in weird learnings, Chris Owen of Pink Apple is an Aussie-based Relationship Specialist and blogger who shares the Secrets to Successful Relating. Her humourous style brings many readers to her blogs Take A Bite and Apple Tart.

Together with Karen Wallace she has also co-authored Save Our Sanity: A Christmas Calm Manual which is a pre-Christmas Must-Have for all frazzled women!

The Physics of Boiling Water

2008-07-24T02:01:48-10:00

Recently I was introduced to the UC Berkeley's class podcasts available on iTunes. I've been listening to classes on Physics, History (Roman), Engineering (focusing on Time, Love and Tech), and Psychology and enjoying every minute.

The other night I was preparing dinner and started boiling some water. Seeing the water bubble up and turn into steam reminded of the physics podcast but it sparked something deeper.

As water is heated, the molecules move about randomly, colliding with one another until some break free and form a vapor. The steam rising from the boiling water, for example. For many years steam has been harnessed to power many things.

This got me thinking about how mankind has advanced throughout the years. With each discover came more experiences, failures which inevitably turned into more advances. The steam in our lives is generated when we learn from the people and memories we focus on.

Whether we are speaking on a corporate, national, globally or personal scale learning to harness the steam and make advances is essential.

Nothing happens by accident or in an instant. Everything we enjoy in life is something we worked for or attracted into our lives through a process called learning.

Fear of failure and the desire to avoid hard work sometimes fuels the hope that it can happen instantly. However, it cannot last if it is not properly nurtured, let alone the fact that you must be prepared to handle the responsibility.

Each success AND failure can lead to bigger and better things.

Tim Draayer is a networker, entrepreneur and author of Network Marketing Journey.

I have been actively involved in home based business since February 2006. Within two short years I would find the means to fight depression, lack, live a life of joyful expression, love and be called a Blogging and Marketing Master.

Take a Moment. Look at Where You Are

2008-07-23T00:15:00-10:00

Photo by John Baker

My dad took this photo. He used a film camera, developed the negatives, and set the prints. This was long before the era of point and shoot. This was 1984.

Nowadays, we rush to get from point A to point B. That's especially true when it comes to getting work done. Tasks need to be done quicker so that we can see the effect of our causes now, instead of later. Hell, you can call a psychic hotline to have someone tell you the effects of your actions long before you ever actually commit to an action.

I'm as guilty of this attitude as much as the next guy. I want to be where I'm headed long before I've actually left.

But when we're constantly trying to move faster and get done quicker, it's that much harder to catch the beautiful fleeting moments that pass us by.

Take a moment, and actually look at where you are in relation to the world. Take that sip of coffee an extra second longer. And look for that glimmer of life, excitement, in your child's eyes.

Cody Robert is a freelance web developer and writes at his personal blog, Cody Robert.

What Do You See?

2008-07-22T10:02:21-10:00

(Note: For best viewing, click on the link below and view the photo at its largest resolution.)

As I was walking one of the serenely wooded paths at Laity Lodge while at a retreat back in June, this old piece of cedar suddenly caught my eye. I was struck (sound of dull thud) by the amazing complexity clearly visible in the grain of the wood. As I continued to stare at it, my brain, quite on its own (what can I say – I just washed it), began to superimpose familiar patterns over the random lines.

Before long I could identify all kinds of creatures: eagle, alligator, dolphin, and many more. It was almost the same feeling you get when seeing something for the first time; something you’ve always taken for granted. I must have stood there for nearly 20 minutes, lost in the wonder of that log.

After a few moments, my conscious brain kinda caught up with the subconscious (sound of a collision of epic proportions), and a post about the hidden potential in all of us was born!

Don’cha just love it when that happens?

(photo: Hidden Meanings, by Robert Hruzek)

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Robert Hruzek is an ordinary fellow with an extraordinary sense of the absurd. Apparently, back when talent was allocated, he missed his helping of propriety and ended up with a double dose of a sense of the ridiculous. Fortunately (and before his head exploded) he found relief from the dreaded SHINE (Seeing Humor In Nearly Everything) Syndrome through his writings at Middle Zone Musings. But don’t worry ‘bout a thing, folks; he’s feeling much better now.

Where will they wind up?

2008-07-22T00:15:00-10:00

As I was looking for pictures for this month's theme, I noticed I have a bunch of pictures of my 3 kids walking together down various paths & trails over the years. I love taking those pictures - somehow, it feels "right" to see them that way -- moving forward together, with so many possibilities ahead.

Dwayne Melancon is the author of Genuine Curiosity, where he is always on the lookout for new things to learn.

Beauty Surrounds Us

2008-07-21T00:15:00-10:00

Look deep into nature and then you will understand everything better.

~Albert Einstein

There is beauty everywhere. We do not need the glory of a breathtaking sunset, or the sublimeness that is a full blown rose with her perfume heady in the summer sun, to find beauty. Mother Nature has myriad ways of showing off.

Even when winter is upon us, we can find beauty just outside our door - if only we take a moment to see. Mother Nature is never without her mantle of wonder.

I took this photo last week, in the midst of a winter colder than usual, in my front garden beside our driveway. I had a sudden urge to fiddle with my new little camera, and when I walked outside I discovered a whole new world through that lens. These tree trunks were a total surprise to me - even though I look out upon them from my desk every day.

What beauty is there right outside your door?

When was the last time you really saw Mother Nature in all her glory?

In every walk with nature one receives more than he seeks.

~John Muir

Karen Wallace is learning to see the world with fresh eyes through the lens of her camera.

This is a contribution to our theme for July: Learning from Pictures

Learning from Fire, Learning from Pictures

2008-07-19T13:06:07-10:00

Look into the fire.

Count to 10.

Slowly.

What do you see when you look into the fire?

Hope

Peace

Love

Serenity

Today

Tomorrow

What can you learn from a picture?

Focus

Strength

Compassion

Patience

Understanding

Can a picture really say 1000 words?

Do you really need 1000 words to say it?

Or just 1?

Flickr photo credit to Amanda Rudkin

Thinker: Phil Gerbyshak writes more than 1 word most days at Slacker Manager.

Learning To Look In Shadow Puddles

2008-07-18T02:31:17-10:00

Some of the favourite photos I take are of reflections: in buildings, in windows, in glass, and in water.

Some of the most surprising shots (to me) have come from looking in puddles. And they're not deep puddles: they're shallow puddles. Just the slightest of pools of water, drifting over cobbles, filling a dip in a woodland walk way, stretched out on an urban pavement.

What surprises me, over and over, is how deep (or is it how high?) I can see. Tall buildings. A magnificent tree. Clouds billowing across the sky.

It reminds me that we don't need much to reflect. A few minutes to do some rapid fire learning. A shallow puddle to look in. There are opportunities everywhere - if we know how to look.

And that by looking down to look up, by looking into the water however shallow, however dirty, however much an ordinary old puddle: we can see something new, shift our perspective and open our minds.

Joanna Young, author of Confident Writing, is a writing coach (and serial blogger) who specialises in helping people to create powerful web content

Taking pictures from puddles was first inspired by Bob Leckridge (aka Amy Palko's dad) at Heroes Not Zombies, with a post called Reflected Tree.

Sherku: Open spaces

2008-07-16T23:52:09-10:00

Open spaces, originally uploaded by shersteve.

Lush green farmland
Billboard prominently situated
With nothing to say

What is a sherku?

Are you prepared to state your case?

Is your elevator or 10 second pitch ready?

Will some one walk away with something to remember you by?

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Steve Sherlock writes his 2 cents exploring the "good experience", "life long learning" and life in general, after handling the "before you blog" list his wonderful wife Dolores provides him. Together, they are enjoying the empty nest while their daughters are away at college. His sherku and other poetry can be found at quiet poet. More information about his current home town of Franklin, MA can be found at Franklin Matters

This picture was snapped along I55 on the return from Springfield, IL when we recently visited to explore Abraham Lincoln and his life there before he became President.

Fridge Magnet Wisdom

2008-07-14T18:27:48-10:00

Snapped this on my mother's fridge in Louisiana last week.

Click the pic for a larger view.

Dwayne Melancon is the author of Genuine Curiosity, where he is always on the lookout for new things to learn.