Learning is so much more than acquiring knowledge. It also has the potential to incite change in our behavior, attitude or even ways of doing things. It has the possibility to improve ourselves and make our lives a little better than it was before. Looking at 2022, I can tell you beyond a shadow of doubt, this year has definitively been a time of learning.
I’ve studied a ton of new concepts I’ve never heard before. Discovered disabilities I never knew existed. And listened to the triumphs, setbacks and lessons of several ladies who sat down with me to share their journeys on this blog.
When I decided to start the “Conversations” category of my blog, I was more interested in HEARING about experiences, comparing notes, and looking for similarities. What surprised me was how much I would personally get challenged.
Harlie
For example, Harlie taught me the importance of never judging anyone and the dangers of what happens when we do. This made me look at my life and how I treat people with disabilities. I discovered sometimes I view them from an ableist viewpoint. Not only that, but my desire to be empathetic can come off as patronizing. If I hadn’t heard Harlie’s story, I would’ve never seen it. But now that I’m aware, I’m working on correcting this behavior.
Angela
Angela, on the other hand, made me realize the importance of cherishing today and enjoying the moment because you don’t know what tomorrow will bring. I’ll admit, I thought I did a pretty good job of doing this but after hearing Angela’s story, I realized I didn’t. I found I was good at was making memories and capturing them, not seizing moments as they happened.
Because a lot of times I wind up either missing the instant or rushing through it so I can get back to my task. There have been numerous times my son, Caleb randomly asks for a hug while I’m in the middle of doing something else. Often I would be so focused on my task, that I would tell him to wait until I was done. Worse yet, I’d get frustrated with him because it was the most inopportune time. But Angela taught me the importance of enjoying now.
So I’ve been working on savoring the spontaneous moments I have with Caleb. I’ve been trying to stop and give him that hug even if it means I need to pause what I’m doing. I’m also trying not to rush the moment so I can quickly get back to the task at hand. Instead, I’ve been taking a minute to thank God for Caleb and the tremendous joy he brings into my life. It’s definitely a work in progress but I’m much better at it now than I was before.
Shelly
Sadly, there are things I’ve learned that I’ve wanted to implement but haven’t. One of those was creating a village. After talking to Shelly, I realized how important this was, especially for parents who have kids with disabilities. My goal was to increase the size of my village because it’s pretty small. But, although I had a lot of good ideas on how I would do it this year, I didn’t follow through. My village is exactly the same size as it’s always been. I have taken some baby steps in the right direction but it still has a long way to go.
What I’m learning
Learning can occur in so many ways. One of the best ways is through real life examples. My life has definitely changed as a result of all the women who’ve shared their journeys with me. It has broaden my perspective and I’m extremely grateful for that. It brings to mind this verse from Philippians 1:3-6 NLT:
Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
So thank you to all the ladies who took time out of their busy schedules to share and inspire others with the lessons they’ve learned on their own journeys.