Proverbs 4:10-13  Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many. I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.

—

Two quick thoughts: 

• Learn well from those worthy of your trust. 
• Learn to instruct yourself. 

Learn from those who have been there, done that, and learned the lessons. They can tell you what to do, what not to do, and how to make the most of the opportunity. 

Find a way to preserve what you are learning. You will want to revisit those insights at some point. You will want to share them with others at the appropriate time. When you hear or read something good, record it and preserve it where you can find it again easily. 

Once upon a time, a particular motorist of my acquaintance attempted to write notes while driving. There are two problems with this. First, it is dangerously distracting. Second, I could never read my notes when I looked at them later. 

An app called Drafts has an Apple Watch widget that makes dictation easy when driving. I do not have to reach for a notepad or my iPhone. Instead, I tap the app icon in the lower-left corner of my watch. This brings up a blue box with a plus sign. Tapping the plus sign brings up a screen to show what I say when I touch the microphone icon in the lower right-hand side of the screen. 

When I touch the microphone icon and start talking, it creates a transcript of what I say. Opening the app later on my iPhone, iPad, laptop, or desktop computer allows me to edit what I dictated earlier and file it appropriately for later use. 

An author of four New York Times bestsellers has a similar process. Every time he finds an interesting quote, fact, or story, he writes it down in a Microsoft Word document. This is a very large document. He never has to wonder where he filed those tidbits that make his writing so enjoyable. 

The same author quoted an old saying this week related to this idea. He said, “The shortest pencil beats the longest memory.” This is why there is a notepad on my nightstand. Dictating notes at 3 AM tends to disturb my bride. 

Take time to reflect on what you learn. I listen to podcasts as I drive to and from work. Sometimes I listen to books, but I prefer to do that on longer drives. When I hear something really good on a podcast, I dictate a note as mentioned earlier. I may also add my own two cents worth or ask questions to research later. 

Try on for size those new thoughts. Where and how and when do they apply? What adjustments do they lead you to make? Why are those adjustments helpful? When will you do it? Who can help you? Who else needs to know what you have learned?

Lifelong learners are seldom bored. They are also seldom boring in personal conversation. 

Learners tend to be listeners rather than talkers. They may look like wallflowers in a group, but they are most likely gathering intel. A good question for a conversation that could go deep fast is, “What are you learning these days?” Prepare to gather some golden nuggets.

What is your favorite way to learn and preserve what you discover?

—

I will learn something new every day and preserve it for use at the appropriate time in the appropriate way.

—

Our Father, teach me, instruct me, grow me in knowledge, wisdom, insight, and understanding. Give me a teachable spirit and an absorbent mind. Amen.