_    Everything I know today I learned after I graduated from college.  Truly, that is when the real learning began.  When I say “real” learning, I mean all the stuff that has been of interest to me as well as things I may have needed to know for a job.  I have to say that the ONLY thing I have applied from my 20 years of formal schooling, besides reading, writing and math, has been the elective business courses I took in college.  And I mean “elective” as in my own college advisor thought I was crazy taking on serious business courses even though I wanted to take them. 

      My first job had nothing to do with what I went to school for yet I got this decent paying job because I had been playing with computers and computer programming since I was a kid.  I mean, what did I know about retirement planning and database programming?  All I knew how to do regarding finance was balance a checkbook!  I’m pretty certain I was hired not because of what I was or wasn’t trained for but because of my attitude and willingness to learn anything based on the skills I had already (self) acquired.   In fact, I’m willing to bet I was the only applicant to say that I used to write programs on our old Commodore 64 computer at home for fun!   And, yes, within the month, I had learned how to program the database program to spit out usable reports. 

      Since my stint at that job, my husband and I have purchased five houses and sold four of them in three different parts of the country, even in a bad economy.  We have learned how to purchase classic muscle cars at a discount and then completely restore them on our own and on a budget, including the engines.  We learned how to scavenge flea markets and purchase classic video games and auction them via e-lists in the days before eBay even existed.  When my husband had a software idea, I set up a business registration, designed the website and learned how to get top search engine placement in the days before AdSense and the like, all in a matter of a few months.   I also learned how to design and place ads in industry magazines in order to increase our distribution.  These are just a few of the things we have done and none were born of necessity.

      This kind of self learning hasn’t stopped.  I took the same approach with parenting, food, home improvement, and even interpersonal relationships.  I am currently learning about growing our own food responsibly and organically.  I am learning about the amazing healing effects of herbs through trying them out for myself.  And I am even foraying into the world of self publishing through writing a book with a friend.  I also have a mental list of things that I would love to set aside the time to learn about in the future.  If they are still important to me by the time my current projects are done, then I am sure I will give them a try.

      So what is the point of telling you all of this?  The most important lesson I have learned is that if you want to stay happy, vibrant and present in your life never, ever stop learning something new.  You don’t need a fancy liberal arts education to choose liberal arts living.  If you have kids, know how important it is to show that learning never stops by LIVING it.  I am no more “special” than any of you are.  If I can learn how to rebuild a car engine out of curiosity, then so can you!