16 October 2021

This week, my key takeaways from "A Hero's Journey" are the three promises Acton makes to its students. First, they will learn how to learn, next, make money, and finally live a life of meaning.  Yes, I want to contribute to my family's financial security, but I love the promises of learning how to learn and live a life of meaning more than making money. 

Learning how to learn is vital to me.  Learning can be a struggle, but I liked what the speaker emphasized in the talk about learning.  It mainly focused on listening, asking questions, and seeing what I could learn from everyone.  I have a grandmother who taught herself how to wire a house, then wired her home as well as her neighbors when electricity came to their tiny rural Colorado town.  I hope I follow her example and learn new things that will benefit my family and everyone around me.  The emphasis to always be learning was something that spoke to me this week.

Living a life full of meaning was something else that touched my heart.  How do I contribute something meaningful to people in my sphere of influence?  How do I use my God-given gifts to give joy?  Am I a good person who lives ethically and will recognize when I fall short and make the necessary course corrections to get back on the path I want to live?  I am trying.  When my life is over, I hope that I have contributed something meaningful and brought hope and joy to others.

Something else in the video touched me.  As I use my gifts to change the world, I will be changed through my service to others in the process.  I believe that wholeheartedly.  When I help others, whether my children, grandchildren, or strangers, I feel my heart change and grow.  I think that is a sweet secret of life.  We change into someone better as we work to help others in meaningful ways.