You know the saying, " You can't teach an old dog new tricks". If this is true, then how does it work? Does the dog stop learning becuase he gets old, or does he get old because he stops learning? As a dog owner, I never remember being warned that trying to teach a dog something after the age of five is a complete waste of time. I think dogs are willing to keep learning as long as we are willing to keep teaching, and we hold a beilief that they are capable. It is only when we decide they can't learn that they can't.
Numerous studies have shown that when people learn a new language, musical instrument, sport or technology, they grow new 'dendrites' in their brain. They make neurological connections, that are different pathways from the ruts and grooves that were formed by always doing things a certain way. As we get older, we think that we need to have all the answers, because that means that we are smart, educated and right. But remember, how did we get to be so smart in the first place? By learning something. When we were young, and we were learning how to walk, did we get it right the first time? If we fell, did we give up, destined to be a crawler for the rest of our life? Probably not. We kept trying becuase we knew that we would eventually get the hang of it. We saw other people and thought, Hey, if they can walk, I should be able to do that too. We need to have the same mentality as we get older and try new things. Sometimes you aren't going to get it right the first time, but that kind of feedback enables more learning than nailing something on the first try. Be willing to take on something new, and laugh at yourself during the process. Being 'new' at something is difficult for some people, but I would rather face my fear of the unkinown by dealing with something new, then get old thinking I know it all.
Comments