This is my response to "WE85 post topics: Learning, curiosity and mysteries" You can also join the challenge here.
Special shout out to 
Topic:
Tell us about a time you learned a very valuable lesson. What was it, the circumstances around it, how did the learning process go and what was the result?
Life is a bundle of learning and we learn every single day especially when we have an open mind to things. I pick up lessons from every aspect of life, especially the things I have to go through. Those experiences must never be a waste and that's the whole essence of going through them if we truly want to be better humans. I will be sharing just a few of those lessons right here.
We can learn from children. I've had to pick lessons from how children interact with each other and how fearless they can sometimes be. I was on the balcony of my dad's house many years ago and I looked down to see some children playing. These children are from our tenants back then and I saw how they were taking risks even an adult who knew better wouldn't take. I also saw how they argued and fought with each other but after some minutes, they came back together to laugh and still play.
I learnt two valuable lessons there;
A. Life is about taking risks. Most people don't do better because they are scared of taking risks. Sometimes we have to do things afraid. I understand that adults have a wealth of experience so they try to evaluate their steps and avoid some things but sometimes, maybe, just maybe, not knowing the full extent of things can play to our advantage sometimes.
There would always be issues that would rise even in well and perfectly executed plans but we just have to forge ahead and keep at it. Children would run as fast as they can, forgetting they can trip and get injured. It's a valuable lesson I learnt from watching them and I would rather do it, fail at it and satisfy my curiosity than live in regrets of not knowing what would have happened had I done it.
Most people say, "What if it doesn't work out?" And I have replied to quite a lot of people in almost the same line, "What if it does?". We never know the full extent of the things we are capable of doing until we actually do those things. We need to learn to live regardless of the uncertainties and the fear that looms. I am sure a lot of people doubted Bill Gates or Steve Jobs at some points. They would have highlighted the risks in the things they wanted to do and maybe they used those risks to their advantage or simply shunned the detractors and get on with it but we are all glad they did.
Children always 'get on with things" but adults are always too careful which is why we hardly get most things done. When I read
This is one of my favourite quotes: "There was a man who never laughed or prayed. He never smiled, cried or sang. Then one day, he died, his insurance was denied, for they claimed he never really lived, so they said he never really died." - Anonymous.
Children just want to live and experience life while adults want to play it safe most of the time. I learnt to live, take risks and follow my heart and I picked those from observing our tenants kids back then.
B. Don't take life too seriously because you can never get out of it alive.
We take things too serious but that's not the case with children. They always learn to let go until another adult pollutes their minds and they started acting up.
Children would always patch things up but adults allow ego to get in the way. Shockingly, I've witnessed an issue where two children fought and they greeted each other the next day, discreetly but the parents didn't say any word to each other for weeks. Whoever wants to most fast must travel light. With our anger and malice, we have lost valuable relationships that would have been key in helping us get to where we wanted to get to.
I learnt a valuable lesson in letting go and that's why I hardly take too many things to heart all the time. I am playful and would joke and laugh with just anyone, regardless of their age and status. I picked that up and it has shaped me into who I am today.
Of course, it wasn't smooth sailing because change is what human restricts naturally, so I stumbled a few times too but the image of the lessons never left me. I remember them even till now and then reconsider my ways to do better too. Life is a continuous learning cycle and we have to keep learning as we go and grow in life.
Thank you for your time.
My pen doesn't bleed, it speaks, with speed and ease.
Still me,
My tongue is like the pen of a ready writer.
Olawalium; (Love's chemical content, in human form). Take a dose today: doctor's order.