Never stop learning

Not too long ago, I was asked: “If you were to name this chapter of your life, what would it be called?” And I automatically blurted out: “Never stop learning.”

What I like about that statement is that it is so ambiguous and can be applied to literally every part of life. Little learnings make way for bigger ones. Maybe one day you learn a keyboard shortcut in Excel (!), or that you can hard boil an egg in the air fryer (it’s true, Google it), or how to properly do a push-up, or the secret to growing and maintaining orchids (still on this one, tbh). The important thing to remember about a learning mindset is this:

Learning something doesn’t mean mastering anything.

While it might seem obvious, the fact is that this mindset takes the pressure off. Learning for learning’s sake opens your mind and allows you to play a little bit without pressure. I believe that when you learn for the sake of discovery, for expanding your mind or just for acknowledging curiosity, you unlock a different part of yourself.

That mindset is how I ended up in design school and starting a mid-life career pivot. That’s also how I started to understand the extent of the built environment and the detail and technicality behind the work they do. Et voila, this site came to fruition.

In the closing of this short note, I ask you:

What have you learned today?

What you want to learn this week?

Then, really be honest with yourself and answer: What’s stopping you?

x

Erika