Theme of the Month: Learning is Key
For the month of January, we explored the theme of Know Yourself. This is a core concept and foundational to the message behind Powerful Latinas. If we don't create who we are, we allow others to manipulate those definitions. I saw a wonderful quote this past week, as follows:
"Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself." --Harvey Fierstein
For the month of February, we talked about Following Your Passion.
What do we do that moves us, inspires us, and allows us to be more than what we currently are? [Speaking of which, if you haven't already taken the Passion Survey, please do so. Take the Passion Survey here!]
For the month of March, we'll be exploring the concept that Learning is Key. This month, we'll be talking about different kinds of learning, what we use to keep ourselves learning, and how we
*implement* learning into our daily practice.
Do you learn through reading books, observing those around you, trying new things, taking classes, or in a multitude of other ways? When we learn, we expand our minds (literally!). We create new pathways in our brains and learning actually keeps our minds young.
For Latinas, as our culture evolves and changes, we are constantly
learning more about what it means to move as Latinos in our culture.
For me, I love to see the statistics of how we are creating new journeys to power within our communities, as well as what we need to work on. When I see these statistics, for me it is a "snapshot" of where we are right now, and a marker for where we still need to go.
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At the same time, I learn about how people view these statistics, and use them to make meaning about who we are as a group -- and what a varied group we are...
I also love to read books, take classes, and try new things. For me, I'm very much an experiential learner, but am always putting new bits of information into my head.
Our Powerful Latina interviewees spoke with us about how they, too, are always pushing themselves to the next level, which means learning new skills. These new skills may be workplace skills -- such as communication, leadership, or delegation -- or skills they implement into other parts of their lives -- such as leading a volunteer organization, or becoming a better parent.
It jumped out at me when I was interviewing the women that they each make continual learning a part of their lives, and, in whatever way they choose to implement it, ensure they are not stagnant.
How do YOU learn? What do you like to learn, and what is a bit tough for you? Do you go into each day with the same expectations, or are you prepared to be surprised and see new things?
Learning can be in traditional settings (such as getting a graduate degree, or a certificate), or it can be in non-traditional settings (such as having an enlightening conversation with your abuela).
Whatever it may be, we'll be discussing learning in its forms this month, and hear from women how they put it into practice!
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Do you live your passion, follow your bliss, and love what you do at 