Learning

Learning is one of the simplest tasks to do. So much so that we can simply not not
learn. Humans learn things early on. Motor skill development and language start
as early as infancy and are the prerequisites that assist humans in further
learning. Culture, demeanor, dialect are other forms of learning that start
happening as kids and if we are among the lucky ones, we may be enrolled in
some piano classes, basketball classes, etc in a young age which help
exponentially in cognitive development. Since learning seems that simple all of
us might be under the notion that we are learners throughout life. BUT, that has
not been the case as the age progresses further on.

Ask two people who have never played piano in life. One of them is a teen and
the other one an adult. We can clearly see that the adult is much hesitant in even
approaching the instrument whereas the teen is already into the heart of the
matter.

Another example is for adults with weight issues who spend time running only to
realize running gets monotonous overtime. Weight loss can be fun if one knows
and chooses a certain game, which not only assists physically but also improves
the neural networking but it is quite difficult if not impossible to get an adult
playing basketball if he has never played it before.

So what is it that creates the divide when people cross the line into adulthood?
Provided the fact that there has been no fixed age as to when adulthood starts,
we can isolate one big problem that causes this juncture. EGO.

It is obvious that children learn fast and that their mind can be shaped into any
form and that the teacher is a potter and all that jazz. But lesser research has
been done to understand why adults hesitate during learning, especially new
things. Isn’t there any method that could turn the adult brain into clay again? I
don’t think the answers entirely negative. Heart of the Matter is an important
term to be considered here. Children can reach there because there is no
obtrusion. They are wild and dandy and can dwell on any great philosophy with
the innocence of a butterfly. That accounts for the saying ‘The Child is the Father
of the Man’.

Adults on the other hand are laden with the burden of life, family, job, etc which
takes away their creativity or at least so it seems. But why stop yourself from
becoming the creative child you once were. Why? Because of the sheer joy of
learning. We have forgotten the roots, the pleasure and the thrill in learning new
things and are content with revisiting old things and ideas. ‘That’s how I learnt
it’, ‘That’s the way things are’ are the things we usually hear adults say. Have we
ever thought how contagious and dangerous this contentment can be?

An example can be taken from the current political situation of Nepal. The
swollen headed politicians have beleaguered us since long ago and despite the
youths trying to battle the situation, nothing much as been achieved. I feel the
main problem here is the stubbornness of the politicians to accept and be the
change. They are afraid that someone better can change the situation.