We All Learn in Different Ways

Different Ways to Learn

The professor of educational psychology class at a university intoned, “We only learn by practicing—by actually doing something.” I shook my head in disbelief.

I raised my hand (I can’t keep my opinions to myself, sometimes). “So, you’re telling me that if I drove down the road, and see the vehicle in front of me bottom out in a pothole, I don’t have a different choice? I will have to go through the same pothole in order to learn that going through potholes could damage my car?”

“Hrrrum,” the professor replied. “What would you do in this situation?”

“Something different!” I exclaimed. “As a rational, thinking, relatively observant human being, I would swerve to avoid the pothole.”

“Um, yes,” he replied. “Good choice for your car. But we’re talking about the psychology of learning.”

“Agreed. But if I observe someone else making a mistake, and make a different choice with a better result, did learning take place?” Obviously, the professor (a young man in graduate school), had no siblings. Every second or third child understands the benefit of learning from the oldest sibling’s mistakes!

Our Gift to You

Carol Bovee and I have had some crazy experiences during our different cancer caregiving journeys. We’ve gone through some potholes along the way that damaged us because we didn’t take time to care for ourselves.

We’ve prepared a free book for you to help you negotiate your own caregiver journey (or tell a caregiver friend about the book!). Learn from our mistakes, without having to make them. We want you to experience a different journey—one where you come out the other end with fewer bumps and dings.

You can find the link to the free book up there in the right-hand corner. You’ll receive a free PDF of Cancer Caregiving 101: How to Survive and Thrive on Your Caregiver Journey. You’ll also receive a short series of emails that let you know about other aspects of our caregiving community.

Even if you don’t care for someone with cancer, you might find the stories inspirational and helpful in your own caregiving journey. Remember, if you know a caregiver, please pass this information along. We’d love to help others learn from our mistakes!

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