Recently, I had a talk with Jeff about my general "knowledge" about the world (hint, taking geography in french during high school was NOT of benefit to me long-term...)
I told him I felt frustrated because I didn't "understand" some of the issues that were taking place globally. I felt left out during conversations because I wasn't informed. I blamed it on the fact that I wasn't in school, that I'd skipped out on a good, well rounded, university education.
While I was having this pity party for myself, Jeff gave me some fantastic advice. Teach yourself.
Jeff has been out of university for years, yet is always up to date on the latest news. From celeb gossip to political issues, he knows all the details. I tell everyone Jeff is "the smartest person I know", that it comes naturally.
Then I started watching him more closely. Jeff wakes up every morning at the same time. He doesn't hit snooze. He has a shower and ACTUALLY leaves himself enough time before work to have a coffee and read the news on his computer. We'll be watching a TV show, and while I'm absolutely consumed in the drama, every once in awhile I'll catch Jeff glancing down reading an article (news, sports, you write it and he reads it). He subscribes to national geographic. Jeff has been self-educating himself for years and it has nothing to do with the fact that he has a university degree.
I've come to realize lately that a lot of the things that I believed were just my character flaws - things I believed were too late for me to learn, things that I had settled for and made excuses for - are things that I can pro-actively change. And it was that simple - teach yourself. We have the knowledge at our fingertips.
I'm so guilty for checking my phone every time I get a break - instagram, twitter, facebook, vine, pinterest - I'm social media addicted. In the amount of time I refresh the pages and absorb useless information about what my acquaintance had for lunch, I could have learned a language and read a bookshelf of novels.
I'm someone that believes in balance (like I'm going to give up my social media altogether though - funny joke!), so instead I agreed that I would try to check it all at once - in the morning or at night. The same information will be there and it will consume less of my time.
I resolved to study up on things I'm interested in. I've started with just basic 'wiki' knowledge, and I usually get lost from there. The hours I'd spend looking at cute puppies and hairstyles on Pinterest is fun, but I'm really loving being "in the know". I like reading both sides of the issue at hand and being able to form my own opinion.
I've subscribed to "The Skimm", an e-mail which comes to my inbox every morning that simplifies the headlines, puts the news in simple terms, and covers an array of subjects. It has easily become one of the most enjoyable parts of my day. I've found myself able to reference and talk about what I've read with my customers, colleagues, family and friends nearly every day since I started subscribing.
Maybe this is just a revelation to me, but I know that I'm not the only one that uses the internet strictly to look at these Micheal Kors Oxfords and re-watch Miley Cyrus on repeat from the VMA's. I've really learned to love the time that I've taken to open up my eyes and see what the internet can really be used for. The information and tools at our fingertips is pretty amazing if you just go looking for it.
Sam
