Life-Long Learning

"We have observed that most people cease learning by the age of forty. By that we mean they no longer actively pursue knowledge, understanding, and experience that will enhance their capacity to grow and contribute to others." --Paul D. Stanley and J. Robert Clinton

My grandparents on my mother's side are an exception to this statement. Despite being in their nineties, they have embraced the age of the Internet. They made a choice to learn something new, even if it meant stepping out of their comfort zone. I'm able to communicate with them more easily because they use email.

They also love to read. Whenever I visit them, I like to ask what they are reading because they have great recommendations. My grandma's eyes light up as she tells me about the story of a mountain climber who built schools all over Pakistan, or an American woman who married the king of Jordan. She's fascinated by their lives and I have many books on my shelf because of her enthusiasm for them.

But she and my grandpa seem just as fascinated by things that might seem normal or mundane. They've traveled all over the world--they even went white water rafting through the Grand Canyon in their eighties. But the stories they bring back aren't just about the incredible things they've seen. They always have something to say about the people they met on the cruise ship or at dinner, some friendship that was forged because they were interested in someone else's story.

My favorite memories with them are the times I got to listen to who they met or what they've been learning. They are definitely my role models for what it looks like to be a life-long learner.