The Teaching is Never Over

 I was never a good student. The very idea of ‘school’ gave me inner hives. As graduation from high school loomed, the thought of continuing to feel adrift in the world of learning was anathema to me. I solved that dilemma by running off and joining a troupe of actors.

Learning lines was fairly easy with repetition. Learning about my characters was almost fun, although being a non-learner, my efforts were fairly minimal. It was safe to say that Meryl Streep would never lose sleep over me. I stayed for many years, happily avoiding all aspects of anything that seemed like ‘school’. When I encountered the idea that all of life is a school, and that perhaps the afterlife would be a time of learning and studying, I felt a deep depression - there was no escape. This was not an exciting concept to me.

Living real life naturally raises questions. Seeking answers is the logical next step. “Why?” is the first, loudest, most persistent one. Then come the others - who, what, when, where, and how. I slowly realized that I was the author of my own Daily News! Local issues, world issues, fluff pieces, sports and games, opinions, entertainment, comics, and puzzles. I was asking questions. I was learning. Life was, in fact, like a school, and it became fun!

In sobriety, I have remained in a state of constant learning: I ask myself why - what was the issue? What was the cause? What is the solution? How do I handle times of confusion? Who do I want to emulate? What are the values I cherish? Why? How can I better understand? What can I learn about next?

My life has opened up to me. I no longer rely on scripts written for me; I write my own life’s play. I get to be the journalist of my own newspaper. The Spirit of Life is my editor and my producer.

Life is, indeed, a most excellent school, one which I embrace wholeheartedly.