Take Advantage of the Learning Opportunities Right in Front of You

learning opportunities an add woman

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Are You Done Learning?

You shouldn’t be, not when you have learning opportunities right in front of you.

Learning should be a lifelong pursuit, and you should be taking advantage of them.

Yes, right now.

You’re reading this, aren’t you?

That’s a learning opportunity.learning opportunities an add woman

We get them all the time, but we rarely recognize them for what they are, and so we let them pass us by, having gained nothing from it.

Are You Ready to Learn?

I’m not talking about going back to school, although if that’s something you want to do, go for it!

I’m talking about the little moments all around us that often have something to teach us, if we only pay attention.

Oh.

That’s the problem, isn’t it?

That whole “paying attention” thing.

You’re so busy rushing through life that you don’t see what’s around you in the present. You’re too focused on the next thing: who am I meeting with next? What do I say when they pick up the phone? What’s for dinner tonight?

That’s your first learning assignment: learning to be in the moment.

Pay attention to what’s happening right now, this very second.

As I sit here typing this, I can hear the furnace running, I am conscious of my cold hands and feet, I can smell the fabric softener on the sheets I folded a while ago and haven’t put away yet.

What are you conscious of right this minute?

That’s called being in the moment. You’re learning mindfulness, and once you’ve got a handle on that, you’re ready to learn.

The Art of Noticing When You Have ADHD

You may think because you have ADHD that you don’t notice a lot, that you don’t pay attention.

But that’s not exactly true.

ADHD is full of paradoxes. We can not notice one big thing and yet see a million small things all around us.

We may not see the big picture, but we take in the details. Or sometimes the other way around.

We can’t pay attention, but we can become absorbed in something to the extent that nothing else exists.

You can start to practice this – to take a look at what’s grabbing your attention. And don’t assume that it’s no big deal. Sometimes it is; you just don’t know it yet.

There could be a learning opportunity right in front of you, if you only take the time to look.

Look for Learning Opportunities All Around You

The other day I was grumbling to myself as I practically followed my husband around the house, picking up after him, putting away what he had gotten out.

But then I remembered that he had gotten up at 3:45 a.m. four days in a row, in order to make some overtime. And that he carries the laundry upstairs for me because I can’t quite manage the basket as comfortably as I would like.

And I learned that love expresses itself in many ways, including picking up after someone and not complaining.

The other day I went to the bank, and as I got out of my car, there was a man coming out of the building. He stood and waited, patiently, holding the door for me as I walked across the lot and into the bank.

And I learned that kindness is easy, and thoughtful, and doesn’t take much.

I get emails and comments from all of you – my readers – and I love every one of them. And each time, I learn something new about one of you.

You don’t have to learn big things all of the time.

You don’t even have to learn things most of the time.

But now and then, when you think of it, stop and notice, and take advantage of all the learning opportunities right in front of you.

Picture of Lacy Estelle

Lacy Estelle

Lacy Estelle is the writer of Lacyestelle.com and the Podcast host for An ADD Woman.

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