Good morning!
When you retire or continue working past retirement age, I believe it’s the perfect time to go back to school or get involved in self-directed learning (SDL) activities.
Let me explain why:
Mastering a Skill Takes Time
It typically takes 6-8 years to truly master a skill or subject, whether through formal education or self-directed learning. This level of expertise is what allows you to become an authority that others turn to for your knowledge and experience.
Stay Active and Engaged
Rather than waiting until you die, this is the time to live life to the fullest! You can develop your hobbies into valuable skills that help humanity, or explore new passions you’ve always wanted to pursue. The key is to keep your mind active and engaged.
Contribute to Your Community
As we get older, we should look for ways to use our knowledge and skills to improve our government, state, city, and the world around us. This is a great way to give back and make a positive impact.
My Personal Journey
For example, I’ve had a lifelong love of nature, having grown up near the woods and creeks of upstate New York. In 2006, I became deeply concerned about climate change and made it my mission to learn as much as I could about this critical issue.
Over the past 5-8 years, I’ve immersed myself as a hobby only in studying “adaptive resiliency” – reading books, attending webinars, and receiving leadership training from climate organizations. I am far from a master as I have just now intensified this curiosity (and hobby) into a desire to become a master of. This has allowed me to increase my aspiration to become a natural master in this field, driven by my commitment to ensuring a sustainable, habitable planet for future generations.
The Joy of Learning
Even when I don’t fully understand the complex topics I’m studying, the process of learning new things is incredibly invigorating. It keeps my mind sharp and makes me feel young again. We should encourage people of all ages to pursue their interests and passions, regardless of their level of expertise.
In conclusion, embracing lifelong learning and mastering new skills can be tremendously beneficial for our personal growth, community involvement, and the betterment of humanity.
Addendum: Destroying Destinies: Addressing the Tragedy of Lost Lives
The situation in Palestine is indeed a heartbreaking tragedy that mirrors the horrors of genocide. Israel’s actions have not only taken innocent lives, but also jeopardized the future of their own citizens for generations to come. The isolation, hatred, and instability they have fueled will not be easily forgotten or forgiven.
The Unforgivable Loss of Women and Children
The taking of women’s lives and the killing of thousands of children is truly atrocious and inhumane. Killing innocent civilians, including women and children, in the name of fighting a terrorist group is inexcusable and cannot be justified.
The Unrealized Potential of the Fallen
What makes this tragedy even more devastating is the realization that those innocent lives lost – whether men, women, or children – each had their own unique destiny and mission, which will now never be fulfilled.
For instance, a young girl from Palestine who may have had a passion for water management and desalination, or a boy from Russia who could have made groundbreaking contributions to climate change mitigation – these are the kinds of unrealized potentials that we have lost.
Consider this deeply; we have ended the lives or destroyed future inventors, problem solvers, and those who might have had the keys to solve our shared Climate Emergency much sooner. These lost lives, especially the children, with proper direction and role models, carried destinies that would have literally helped humanity evolve.
It is no surprise that friendly and humane visitors from other planets will not stop by to offer assistance in our evolution, as we are still in a barbaric and inhumane stage, as clearly evident in our current wars and conflicts. I believe our governments, along with the UN, should establish a Department of Peace and Evolution.
The Responsibility of the Older Generation
As the older generation, we have a responsibility to be positive role models for the youth and to carefully consider the legacy we are leaving them. We must think deeply about how to create a habitable, sustainable, and extinction-free planet for future generations.
In the face of such senseless violence and loss of life, it is crucial that we reflect on our actions and strive to be the change we wish to see in the world. Only by embracing compassion, understanding, and a commitment to a better future can we hope to heal the wounds of the past and build a more just and peaceful world.
Tito
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