Of Insight
Greetings:
While in college, my father and I had a major fight. The details are not important, but the moment was a tough one for both of us. Years later, while raising my boys, I suddenly saw the incident in a different light. Almost, I was across the room, a different person, watching the argument, and its climax.
As a parent, the moment proved defining. I saw parenting in a different light, and can only hope that years from now both of my boys have a similar self-discovery.
We all have those moments, and certainly I have had more than my share. Learning never stops.
A different, but analogous, event occurred today. While sitting in on one of the classes that I audit, I realized that 38 years ago, I could not cross the line to a different perspective, and as a result, I now see why I could not succeed in advanced mathematics, which was my original major. The insight was startling because suddenly I was looking at a different world. Anyone familiar with the Matrix movie when Neo becomes able to see the world he is in will know how I felt.
What was the trigger. Tough to say. Same material. Another good teacher. Just a click! Anyone who likes math can ask me, and I’ll explain it. They will say, “stupid,” anyone can see that. They are right. I just did not then, and now I do.
Lesson? All of us get stuck in a worldview that is difficult to change. We hold on and hold on, only to suffer the consequences. Learning how to “unstick” our perspectives, perhaps take a neutral view for a while, play with different options, is a crucial task that requires the willingness to suspend judgment and see what the heck am I missing?
Well, the morning experience was neat. I hope it spills over to further understanding. Since the course is 4th level calculus and the other course (there was a similar “wow!”) is complex variables, maybe I can pursue a new career that was the old career I wanted 40 years ago, applied mathematics, science, and engineering.
Thanks for reading.
Michael
