Maturity is the ability to learn vicariously
an old Sunday School teacher
You learn more than you ever realize. Our minds are amazing components of the human existence. They work to make sense of the overwhelming stimuli that surround us, and even contemplate complex ideas that aren’t physically present. While some compare the human brain to a super computer1, I personally believe that our minds are far more complex than the most complex computer can ever be. Each one of us has unique neurological connections based on our intentional and unintentional experiences. I think that a really interesting example of this are the descriptions of a traffic light. The light is red, yellow, and green in the US, but red yellow, and blue in Japan. In England the light is red, amber, and green. I’m sure this is just a small sample of the variety in describing the exact same colors of traffic lights.
One vital way we can enrich our minds is through learning of different perspectives and situations. Exposure to different, and often challenging information allows us to see connections, build those neurological bridges, and engage in entirely new ways. As recently as decades ago, this was much more difficult. Knowledge beyond your sphere was much harder to gain. Schools sought to supply information, and media provided narratives, but both were constrained by informational bottlenecks. Even our understanding of other people was greatly limited by the communities we lived in. Whether racial, socio-economic, or cultural, we generally lived in insulated spheres unable, and sometimes unwilling to see the perspectives of others.
Until 1998 there was no Google. The internet and informational revolution shook that paradigm to its core. My wise advisor once explained the evolution of his Japanese history classes in the following way. As a student, he went to the university to learn about Japan, from a professor who had been there. The library had books with even more information through which he could understand the subject. The university experience was about access to information. Now, however, the situation is much different. With the swipe of a finger on a cell phone, a student can access over 7 billion sources on Japan. You can read today’s Yomiuri Shimbun anywhere there is an internet connection2. In fact, due to the International Date Line, it’s 19 May here in Tennessee where I’m writing, but I’m actually reading tomorrow’s newspaper. The role of the university is no longer to supply information, but to help students evaluate, analyze, and organize the information pouring in.
The sources of information are also changing. As a historian, I love my books. My brother has become a fan of audio books. He commutes and enjoys listening to books while he drives. While I think that this might be an option for some types of books, I don’t think my brain is wired to get as much out of the purely aural experience. For depth I need to read. Interestingly, I find that for complex ideas, I need to read the paper copies rather than an online source. This may seem to be heretical since I’m posting this electronically, but there are many studies showing the differences in cognitive process between digital and print formats3. I’m pretty sure that my brain works best when I’m reading an old book. Old books just have an aura that increases my neurological prowess I think.
Ultimately though, times are changing and it isn’t always convenient to have a book. While I don’t have long commutes, I am apt to take long showers and books in the shower just doesn’t work. Fortunately, within the last couple of years, I have discovered podcasts. A huge inspiration, and probably the inspiration for this entire endeavor is Eclectic Intellection4. This series of discussions by my colleague served as the spark to join the digital age. Other influential podcasts include Mike Duncan’s podcast on revolutions5, Sharyn Eastaugh’s podcast on the history of the crusades6, the Hidden Brain podcasts7 that originally started on NPR, and TED podcasts8. Listening to these insightful and digestible resources provides the intellectual stimulation to seek connections. I’ve decided that Bernard Délicieux is my personal hero. I want to make sure to supplement this intellectual input with the spiritual input as well9. Balance is important.
Beyond my speaker, there is another medium that I am increasingly getting information from. Until a few years ago, I never would have imagined the use of a tablet computer. While I am sitting, I can watch, and while there are seemingly endless numbers of cat videos, I’ve found several really engaging and informative YouTube channels to enjoy. Just today PBS Space Time has a 23 minute video on “Breaking The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle,10” and Scotty Kilmer explains how to reset the computer on a car11. YouTube channels by Mark Rober12, Dustin Sandlin13, and James Orgill14 provide incredible insights. Add the entertainment of TwoSet Violin15, Guga Foods16, RoomieOfficial17, Out of the Woods18, and Wrench Every Day19 and you can see how much information is available.
Enveloped by all these stimuli and options, making wise choices can be overwhelming, and I have experienced the tendency to just be a consumer without utilizing the information to produce anything. These ramblings and musings are an attempt to move beyond the simple consumption of information to the evaluation, analysis, and connections of those ideas into something uniquely my own. Then, rather than just leaving those ideas to wither on the vine of my forgetfulness, I hope to preserve them that they might be of value to myself and others as they are reinterpreted through the lenses of future readings.
Right, I hope this has been useful. Now I need to listen to a trombone and flute rendition of “A Whole New World.”20