So, by joining Musings of a Housewife’s “What I Learned This Week” blog carnival, I kinda promised some rilly important learning for today. You might have even expected profound.
I dunno if this post is gonna fulfill either of those expectations. But I think it’s important.
(On a side note, one lesson for today is that the best-laid plans of mice and mommies often go awry. Hannah, my 9-year-old, is home sick for the second day in a row. She’s pretty low-maintenance, but if you’re a mom, I’m sure you know how even having a kid around divides your focus. I’m writing and watching “Olivia” on Nickelodeon right now.)
So. Learning.
How do you define a lesson learned worth sharing?
Is it something that you’ve totally figured out? An issue on which others would consider you an expert? A subject that you’ve studied and maybe even gotten a degree in?
You know, I don’t think so.
I say this after reading my friend Helen‘s blog this morning.
She’d decided to join the What I Learned Carnival at my nudging.
Her post for today got me thinking.
But not because it contained some obvious spiritual truth. In fact, it was really short. And Helen herself wrote that lately she’d learned “nothing, zip, zilch, nada.”
Here’s what struck me:
I learned something from her self-proclaimed “nothing” post.
Helen’s honesty reminded me of the many times I’d been slogging through the middle of some lesson. Something I felt like I hadn’t fully learned. Maybe even a lesson I was still resisting learning.
At those times, I tended to keep my mouth shut. What benefit could someone gain from my struggle? What could I possibly offer in my then-current state?
Helen’s honest and open post reminded me of that. And encouraged me.
Because after 41 years of life, I think I’m finally learning not to hide.
***
In fact, I think this is a big reason why I blog. I really do think out loud here in the red Georgia clay. I don’t plan many posts. I don’t run off and research some amazing truth so I can come back and teach it to you after I’ve achieved mastery.
Obviously, not everything I share here is profound. A lot of it is mundane or just plain silly.
But it’s what I believe I’m supposed to share for that day. I once even compared it to manna (which during the Hebrews’ journey to the Promised Land was provided in the morning and had to be used that day or it would spoil).
Someone could argue that my “manna” doesn’t actually spoil. Instead it gets forgotten or pushed aside by my easily-distracted mind for the next day’s lesson.
I prefer to see it my way. (Of course I do.)
So thank you, Helen, for giving me the lesson I’m learning today.
It’s just one of many things I’ve learned this week.
If by “learned” we all agree that I mean “am in the midst of thinking about and maybe even acting on and might eventually understand in hindsight.”
How bout you? What have you learned?
12 responses so far ↓
1 cassie // Jan 27, 2009 at 6:47 pm
I have learned to learn from others mistakes.
watch listen and see waht others are doing
it is amazing how much insight you can get from that!
2 @ngie // Jan 27, 2009 at 8:48 pm
These are good thoughts Steph.
This week I learned that one of the secret reasons I enjoy having people over is because the house gets put in order and I am not grumbling about getting it there. Goes to show me how important my motives and motivation are.
3 katdish // Jan 27, 2009 at 9:46 pm
I learned that Sherrie writes REALLY LONG COMMENTS, but I appreciate where her heart is coming from. I learned that I am NEVER going to do another cartoon blogger thing, because I become awashed in guilt that I might forget someone. I learned that my daughter is terrified of mosquito hawks, and that I'm probably a bad mom for running inside so I can laugh at her. I learned that my dog apparently really does sleep all day, cuz I haven't left the house. And I learned that you can't trust the Snuggie people.
4 katdish // Jan 27, 2009 at 9:46 pm
Oh, and perhaps the most important thing I learned is that I suffer from Fatassatosis.
5 Helen // Jan 27, 2009 at 10:15 pm
Thank you, Steph. You really helped to put things in perspective for me (the learning part, I mean). I appreciate that. And I do feel better than I did this morning.
Katdish, does this mean I should nix the idea of sending people to your blog to comment "what about me! What about me!"
6 Kara-Noel // Jan 27, 2009 at 10:44 pm
Blogs are great for the lesson of night hiding. We had a great speaker at my women's study last week saying that as Women of God we should be fearless. I have been thinking about this all week!
Funny side note… my brain is a little off today because when I saw your blog title at first I thought it said red clay diapers!! I was thinking what kind of poo is she wiping?? Poo is my life right now with 2 kiddos under 2!
7 MusingsofaHousewife // Jan 27, 2009 at 11:36 pm
Yes, we can all learn something from one another, can't we?? That's why I love the medium of blogs. I learn so much from all of you!
8 thefarmerfiles // Jan 28, 2009 at 12:05 am
Aaah I have learned that my kids need me to be in these transition moments with them…completely. And one day I am going to miss this.
9 sherri // Jan 28, 2009 at 2:00 am
I've learned that there are lessons to be learned from EVERYONE ,in every situation, regardless of the position they are in at the moment.
People, in the midst of problems, teach us some great lessons. If we'll just take the time to seek out the wisdom.
And I've learned that @ngie and I share the same secret of enjoying having people over cause it motivates us to get the house in order! AGain, I thought I was the only one that thought that way. If I didn't have people coming in and out of my home, I'd live in squaller!
10 Steph // Jan 28, 2009 at 2:27 am
@ngie and sherri,
I'm with you two. I would live in a hovel if I never had people over. We used to host a weekly small group just so I'd vacuum more than once a quarter.
You think I'm exaggerating. I'm not.
11 Steph // Jan 28, 2009 at 2:31 am
katdish, I've learned that I feel deeply offended when I read the word Fatassitosis. I'd prefer that you use the alternative swear Fatbuttitosis, please. It's holier.
I've also learned that you are a unique combination of short attention span and super-high expectations of yourself. (cartoon bloggers, anyone?)
helen, don't stop sending people to katdish to make her feel guilty. I have a feeling it might be character building for her. (Wouldn't want to take THAT away from her.)
12 Steph // Jan 28, 2009 at 2:35 am
Red Clay Diapers, huh? You know, I might need to create a new blog for parents of babies with that name. You don't mind if I borrow that title, do you?
And fearlessness. I agree. What we should all aspire to.
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