As you grow older, are you still interested in learning new things, beyond simply killing time? In what way? Formal education, online classes, YouTube videos, books, or something else?
Yes, I'm interested in learning new things, but more of the "hobby" type stuff or personal interest. I have no interest in classroom studies at this point, though. Last year I tried to learn to knit from youtube instructional videos (ended badly), and I finally taught myself to make decent breads and buns. I always wanted to bake breads but never had the time; now I do.
I have enrolled in a few classes. If they aren't long, I stick with them, but I have less time in the summer to do that, and I spend a bit of my online time here on SOC. I have always been, and continue to be, interested in learning new things.
I had wanted to sign up for community college classes in my retirement. COVID killed part of it. I don't know why I didn't otherwise follow through.
Most recently, I enrolled in online classes to become a facilitator for the SMART Recovery program and the SMART Family & Friends program, but I am continuously learning about various professions and places in the course of maintaining client blogs, or, in a smaller way, during my directory job. For example, I maintained a real estate blog for a year and, before that, it was a sign-painting company. When you come across blogs on company websites, it's rare that someone employed with that company, or even in that business, writes the blog posts. Instead, someone like me learns enough about the business to write blog posts about it, at least in the beginning. Often after the first year or so, they leave the blog idle or use it to post announcements and such. It's all about SEO for them. I am also doing the blog for my wife's recovery center, so I have a bunch of books on addiction and recovery that I use as resources. Udemy is a good place to find courses on a variety of topics at reasonable prices, and the ones that I have taken were useful. I have taken several classes from The Great Courses, on DVD and online, and they were interesting, too. Wondrium is The Great Courses in a monthly, quarterly, or annual plan, available on Roku, Amazon Fire, or others. Another is Coursera, but I haven't actually tried that one.
I would like to try oil painting using digital software like Photoshop. But Photoshop has a very steep learning curve, so I bought something easier called Clip Studio Paint ($59). I enrolled in a LinkedIn course to learn how to use CSP. I hope to someday be able to produce mystical art like the attached:
Another great learning resource I use is "TED Talks". When interested in some topic, I search for it. If there are any talks on the subject, they are usually very good to excellent.
I'm very interested in learning......it's just a lot harder to get the old brain wrapped around new facts.
Ken, Thanks for this new thread. It has awakened my interest in watching Ted Talks daily. The Talks are such a great resource for learning new things. Namaste.
I thought as long as we are having so many coming to our country that speak the language, I would try Spanish. Everyone was saying 'they should learn OUR language' and that may be true but what would be the harm in learning theirs? Tho, I am not good at languages. My oldest daughter is very good. She can speak Japanese, German, a little of anything she tries... My oldest brother is also very good. He wanted us and everyone to learn languages by immersion. I can ask for the bathroom and water, but I did not want him to dump me into the Dominican Republic where he spends half the year and have him watch me make a fool of myself. I bought some audio cds to listen to while I do the dishes and such but I concentrate more on the dishes, so far.
I was once very good with languages and accents, but that isn't the case now as I have lost so much of my hearing.
Absolutely. I am not fond of taking a course at this time, but I do watch some YouTube videos on water painting. I am just playing around with it, but it's interesting as to how one slightly different color can change an entire perspective of a picture. I also love learning about nature. It amazes me as to what I never knew. There are a few gentlemen here at my facility who have graduated from some very prestigious universities, and we meet after dinner and discuss world affairs and the like. Very enlightening. We are evolving into a think tank.