What a great reflective thought! Many a time I have worked diligently repairing or attempting to make or replicate something when ultimately it came down to me replacing or buying from somewhere what I had intentions to do myself. My initial reaction is usually the same, “well, that was a waste of time”. My head swirls with thoughts of other things my time could have been spent on. Perhaps I could be enjoying time with my family, perhaps I could have been relaxing, or perhaps I could have been doing something to improve myself. Then it usually all comes back to me and finds it’s center or balance if you will. Maybe it would take some time, especially if I am frustrated with what I was pursuing or working on. Eventually though, nine out of ten times, I find solace that I was improving myself and chances are I was working alongside one of my children trying to teach them or learn along with them and every once in awhile I was also doing it because I was “relaxing” and tinkering with something.

Learning is a process and in my opinion should not be an end in and of itself. I have always been curious and a natural student. My ADD has been a hinderance in brick and mortar schools but has been an asset in driving me to learn all sorts of new things. Generally I try to read up on the task I plan on attempting or watch YouTube videos to get a course of action. It is not until the “rubber hits the road” that my true education is fulfilled. When I can apply what I am learning, making connections, and trying I am able to truly understand. The murky picture that was there before suddenly becomes vibrantly clear and the AHA! moment I desperately seek from my students is personally achieved through personal satisfaction.

This is why I work so hard to find and collect primary sources and artifacts. I personally get to read, touch, and try thus giving me clarity and understanding. I often stumble upon a nugget of detail that excites me, much like the connections in my Stanley Thermos article between Stanley, Tesla, and Edison. Even if I “fail” at the task or skill I still learn from it, the real challenge then becomes changing my perception of failure to an opportunity and remembering what was learned for future use.