Celebrating Baby Steps

Stay curious and open to life. No matter what happens keep learning and growing. Find what you love to do and find a way to share it with others.
—Cheerful Monk

He who is afraid of asking is ashamed of learning.
—Danish quote

Where the world ceases to be the scene of our personal hopes and wishes, where we face it as free beings admiring, asking and observing, there we enter the realm of Art and Science
—Albert Einstein

This picture represents what I’m aiming for in life…the joy of learning new skills with no ego attached. The baby has no qualms about asking for help, and it doesn’t bother her that other people can walk “better” than she can. She’s not comparing herself to others or worrying if she’s learning fast enough. Learning to walk isn’t a goal with a deadline, it’s simply something she’s committed to doing. That’s me… I’m committed to lifelong learning, and to doing it with joy. There’s no external reward at the end, it’s the process that counts.

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, at the moment I’m learning HTLM, CSS and some WordPress. My stack of resources…mostly in the form of books, but also information from the web…has grown. I don’t feel obligated to read every page of every book…they’re not on a TO DO List. They’re more like a group of friends willing to lend a helping hand when I need one.

So like the little girl in the picture, I’m enjoying my first baby steps. I’m well-supported and savoring the moment…and ready to take the next small step.

What about you? What are you learning at the moment? Are you enjoying it? Please share your thoughts in the comments section.

Thanks to traveler for commenting on last week’s post.
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9 Responses to Celebrating Baby Steps

  1. Nice picture Jean! All the best with your baby steps =D
    Robert

  2. Jean says:

    🙂 Thanks, Robert!

  3. Robin says:

    It’s an interesting issue – many people are put off learning a musical instrument as an adult because they see other people already doing it so well (eg kids), rather than doing it for their own enjoyment.

    It’s funny, but I’ve had no difficulty learning about making websites and now a blog, in the last couple of years – I guess if anyone really wants to do something, they find a way and comparisons with other people just fall by the wayside.

  4. Jean says:

    Robin,
    Amen to that! That’s the one thing I really learned teaching stress management. Making the commitment to doing something is the most important step. Once one does that learning the “how” is fairly simple.

    I learned to play the piano as an adult. I had wanted to learn when I was a child and never had the chance. I took some lessons when I got out of college, but there was too much going on to practice. So I decided when I had a child I would learn when he/she did. I kept that promise and took for several years once my daughter turned 8 and started taking lessons. I practiced at least a half hour or an hour every day and loved it. It still warms my heart to think of it. 🙂 Thanks for reminding me.

  5. Jean ~

    I loved the quote from you and Einstein both. I just wrote an article on Einstein and the response if overwhelming. It proves the greatness of this man who contributed so much to this modern world despite starting lackluster life by the world standard of smartness.

    You always inspire me with short, sometimes witty but always profound thoughts..

    Shilpan

  6. Jean says:

    Shilpan,
    🙂 Thanks for the kind words. I saw your article on Einstein and thought it was great. I especially liked the quote, “Try not to become a man of success but rather to become a man of value.” I’ve actually written a draft of a post using that quote. I’ve always been highly motivated, but it sure hasn’t been for the conventional idea of success. It sounds as if we’re kindred spirits there.

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  8. Diane says:

    jean,
    I love the article and Einsteins quote as well!

    The first time I looked at that picture from your other article. I laughed at my pile of books…

    I took a belly dancing class last year. Talk about hard so much rewiring going on… its fun to learn a new thing! And the smiles and laughter that come are the best.

  9. Jean says:

    Diane,
    I’m glad you liked it. Good for you for taking belly dancing. I know what you mean about rewiring our brains. My husband and I take dance classes, not belly dancing but still fun. 🙂

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