The Pursuit of Knowledge

I'm baaaaack!!!! Did you miss me?...No?...You didn't notice?...That's cool lol. I had a busy week guys. All that aside...I was stuck in deep thought one day (happens often), just thinking about the overwhelming amount of information that is readily available. Seriously...if you don't know something, it's because you didn't ask lol. These thoughts inspired this post. Yes, some things you do need to go to school for, but with certain skills/crafts/etc, you can be self-taught. Even if you did go to school for whatever, you should still keep yourself current by constantly learning new things about your field. I came up with a list of some things that we all can do to continuously educate ourselves and take matters into our own hands. If you have dreams...a destiny, don't let money stop you. I would like to go back to school for art...can't afford that right now, but you think I'm not out here learning? Shhhhooooooottttt lol. I got books on books on books. Here are some suggestions for your pursuit of knowledge...  

Pick Up a Book...or two. There are TONS of books out there for literally whatever it is you want to learn more about. You name it, "For Dummies" probably has a book for it lol. Those are some good books by the way. Amazon.com is a great place to start looking. I find books for great prices on their site, they arrive quickly, and they offer great suggestions for other books relating to the title or topic you searched for. I have a plethora of books on cartooning, comics, graffiti, a million books on acrylic painting, marketing, fundraising, and a million more in my Amazon wishlist. You want to learn about something...buy a book and try teaching yourself. Find Workshops/Classes... So maybe you don't like reading so much or teaching yourself isn't your thing. Attend a workshop or a class!! I typically find these using Google. I type in what kind of workshop or class I'm looking for and the area I'd like for it to be in. I also come across them through word of mouth, by attending events related to the things I'm interested in, or looking at an organization's website. Many times you can find some FREE workshops or classes. Another place that I look to take classes is at a school...surpise lol. Some schools offer classes "a` la carte" and allow you to take certain courses with students pursuing degrees without having to be enrolled in a program. Perhaps you can't afford to pursue a degree at the moment *raises hand*, so you can just take some classes in the meantime. Google It... Prowl the web. There are oodles of blogs, DIY websites, "How To" websites...the list goes on and on. There is so much to be inspired by out there and so much to learn...keeping in mind the fact that Abraham Lincoln told you you can't believe everything you read on the internet. There are so many online communities and forums where there are thorough, well-researched discussions taking place with very useful information. I've even diagnosed some people using information on the internet lol. If you're looking for more scholarly information and you're concerned about the source, you should start with a ".org" or ".edu". YouTube it... OMG. YouTube changes lives lol. You could probably build a house watching a YouTube video...probably not. But seriously, you can sit and watch a person do exactly what it is you're trying to do. When I needed to repair the hole I made in the wall in my space at Artomatic, I searched...repairing sheetrock/drywall...simple as that lol. There's probably a video for any subject you can imagine. Ask a Friend... This one's pretty self-explanatory. If there's someone in your life that is doing what you desire to do...talk to them!! It's you're friend. Don't be scared. If they don't want to help you...maybe they're not your friend and you have other problems lol. Oh, and this goes for family too...regarding the asking part...not whether they love you or not lol. Find a Mentor... Maybe none of your friends are doing what you want to do. There are a lot of people out there that are willing to help/guide/encourage others. Not only does it allow them the opportunity to change someone's life, it feels good to be needed lol. All they can say is no. Don't be scared. Ask.

This isn't an exhaustive list by any means. Just a beginning point. There are so many ways to gain knowledge. If you have any other good ones, feel free to share below. The takeaway...don't be discouraged!! The journey to your destiny may not always happen how you planned it, but as long as you continue to take steps in the right direction, you'll eventually reach your destination. The speed bumps, accidents, U-turns, and traffic will just make your story of triumph that much better and you, all the more strong.

Stay Inspired.