I am a big believer that you learn things from everyone that you meet. There just has to be something you take away from them, whether good (hopefully good things are taken away most of the time) or bad. I feel like I always learn something from someone once I get to know them.
I know I've learned things from people who have commented here, from people I run into at school, work, in the neighborhood etc.
If you stop and think about it, most people you have met have taught you something good or bad. Chances are if you know me, that I have taught you something, either good or bad.
I've started to think back to the people who have taught me the most while at college. I'd put my freshman roommate Errol up near the top. There are a lot of people at school who are teachers and staff members who I have learned a lot from. My professor and adviser has taught me a lot. Meghan Nanfeldt taught me a lot too. A recently graduated player taught me tons about soccer skills and drills. Some people teach very valuable lessons. This might sound weird but I'd say that Geno Auriemma taught me a lot just by listening to him at press conferences and observing him at practices while reporting on the women's basketball team.
There are also some people for whatever reason or another fascinate me because I realize there is a lot I can learn from them.
I also have to say, the person I learned the most from this past year might be surprised at who they are.
Just don't forget, you learn something from everyone and when you stop and think about it, you will know exactly what I mean.
Our family had a conversation about this very topic during breakfast. Our general experience: Those who cause the roll of our eyes initially, many times are those we learn from and value the most.
ReplyDeleteThere are those whose contributions are not registered until they're long gone & there is no way to say thank you. Still others in which the best thing to do is run in the opposite direction. The majority of people we meet, fall between. Much depends on how we choose to live our lives.
It's funny that two people related to football are related to this.
ReplyDeleteI never stopped to think about all the people that you meet and learn from until I was watching something on Walter Payton. He believed that you learn something from everyone you meet and I think figured out what he meant.
Old Ohio State football coach Woody Hayes talked about how you can't pay people back and I agree, because certain people have taught me things that I can't pay them back for, but what I can do is pay forward and give to others. I can't pay back all of those who have helped me, but I can help others
No two people are exactly alike and everyone has been exposed to different things and therefore exposes others to new things. Everyone has different values, different ways of being raised, different hobbies, come from different places etc. and somehow interacting with new people rubs off somehow, or at the very least makes you think and exposes you to a new way of doing things.
I really think I could recall what I learned from most people I have interacted with, even if really trivial.
Not everyone teaches me something important. Some people teach me about a place, or about their job etc. Others teach me important lessons and values. I think the biggest lessons often take time to be learned because it often takes a lot of reflection and thought for things to sink in.
Certainly I would agree that the learning and application are two different things. My father is a great example of that. He has taught me the "proper way" to wash a car and load the dishwasher and numerous other things. I've never applied it though.
As I've matured I also begin to realize how lucky I was that he taught us to never be so late as to be on time, or to not spend money on something I really wanted so I could save money instead.
All of the times we would show up to church 30 minutes early, or leave to be at the airport terminal 4 hours before the flight takes off to sink in when you realize that it's nice to not have to worry about being late and that being on time will be REQUIRED and shows responsibility when you get older.
I'm amazed at all of the things my parents turn out to be right about, although they certainly they are still wrong about a lot of things...I just had to say that...