On Learning

Earlier in the fall, I wrote a post about the importance of finding time for yourself. You can read that post here.  It is so important to get away and really think, appreciate, and reflect on what is happening around you and in your life.  It is important to take that time for yourself. It is through these reflective times we learn about ourselves, put things into perspective, and find ways to grow.

There are other things we each need to make us feel fulfilled happy each day.  There are a number of things that I realize that I need each day to help make me feel whole and full of life. First of all, I need time with my kids each day. Some days it isn’t a lot of time. Working full-time in a career that can take much of my time, can make this challenging. For me though, as long it is a little bit of time to give my kids each a kiss, a snuggle, read them a story, and sing them their bedtime songs, I am good.  Of course, I love these holiday times when I get to spend a lot more time with each of them.

Daily opportunities to learn from others is also important for me. I know that many may find this to be unusual, but I truly love to learn.  I love being inspired by so many of my PLN on a daily basis. This is accomplished by reading tweets (and blog posts linked) on Twitter or posts in my Facebook feed. In addition, reading through posts in my Google Reader is also an important part of my learning and inspiration. Sometimes, I also have the opportunity to read posts on Zite or in my Flipboard and then share these inspiring posts with others.  This learning and sharing energizes me.  The more I learn, the more I want to learn.

I enjoy sharing what I am learning in my blog.  It’s not that I think I have a great deal to share and for others to learn from, but I believe that it is important to share with others what we are doing and what we are learning. I love the video, Obvious to You, Amazing to Others. I feel that it demonstrates the importance of sharing with others. I know that I appreciate what other people share. It is my hope that others might find something useful in a post that I write. You can read more about why I blog in this post I wrote earlier this year.

If you follow me on Twitter or follow my blog, you will have noticed that I have not been as active in either as I have been in the past.  For me, for my love of learning, this needs to change.  I am not saying that I need to post a blog post every day or read everything that those I follow on Twitter write, but it does mean that I would like to participate more in learning with my PLN. This learning is so rewarding to me professionally and personally. To do this, I need to find ways for my “day job” not to take over every moment of my evenings (when I used to find time to read and blog). Some days that just isn’t going to be possible, which I understand, but finding this time is important to me.

What are some things you need to do each day to help you feel fulfilled and energized?

Are any of these things missing currently from your life?

If so, what changes would you like to make to ensure these things are present again?

I would love to hear your thoughts.