first things first

The 7 1/2 habits of life long learning were not what I expected.  When I think of what I want to learn about for the rest of my life and how I want to do it, my list was different from the tutorial.  Yet, I still found their points/suggestions to be incredibly valid.  

The easiest tip for me is number 1: GOALS!  I'm not big on sports metaphors (in fact, I am more confused by sports metaphors.  I had a boss who used to explain projects to me with sports metaphors and He quickly received that blank, iced over stare).  But, knowing what you want to learn, the final product, is by far the easiest thing for me.  If I know what I want to learn, master, or just understand, it is easier for me to be more enthusiastic about learning.  I remember how I used to get so frustrated in college to sit through courses required for my major that weren't classes I REALLY wanted to take.  I didn't really want to take them because I didn't really find anything in the subject matter that I was interested in learning.  Now, 6 years after first entering a college lecture hall, I see that even if I'm not completely interested in the course I'm still going to learn something valuable so I need to "suck it up" and be more objective.  Which leads me into the hardest tip (or one of them...) 

The first tip that struck me as hardest was the third step, viewing problems as challenges.  I'll admit it, I am only the teeniest bit "melodramatic" and when I encounter a problem it is so much easier for me to be a bit peeved for a few hours, then come back with a fresh approach.  I know I have to work on my problem-solving skills, and I have gotten better, but there is still a nagging voice in the back of my head that won't stop complaining and moaning whenever I encounter a problem.  I think I just need to work on my rebound time.  

I also know that the technology tip won't ever be easy to accept.  I am a geriatric in a 23 year-old body, and computers just bug me.  Most technology does- I don't have an iPod, I only use my cell phone for tetris and phone calls (I don't even have a fancy-shmancy ringer on it!), and I've never changed the template for my myspace.  I think it's the fact that I can't talk to technology, and it changes so fast, who can really keep up with it?  I am so much more comfortable creating a posterboard for a presentation instead of a powerpoint.  I think technology also brings out my impatient side.  I get impatient with myself for not being able to pick it up quickly, I really am SO slow.