Every Experience is A Master Class
A couple of months ago, I chanced on ads about Master Class on YouTube and I fell in love with the concept. Having the most refined and experienced personnel in a field of study give you their rendition of issues always hits differently (with myself, as a Biologist, personally enjoying Prof. Jane Goodall’s class, having studied much of her work in school) — because they come at it from points of longevity, experience and practicality; points that are often missing even in classrooms.
The underlining distinction is the pride of experiential learning. They learnt with their life as the plotting board and obviously hurdled stages that we are probably yet to face. The first of the benefits being that we get to see where they fell, what they did when they fell and the way back up. And while we may not go through the exact, truth be told their life stories will be our springboards.
In our natural capacities, particularly in an evolving poster-world we participate in presently, it would seem flashier to put up all but the images and reflections of our failings, shortfalls and poor records. In my conceded polarized opinion, it is the better option. Just because often, the world puts little credence to the rehearsal and rather more or all flash lights on the final show. The caveat has been then, to only count just the wins as victories — but maybe we may have to redefine victories henceforth.
It may be time to accept the failings and flaws as part of the lessons, face them, embrace them and build on and from them. Each life experience comes not with a tag, something I have personally come to learn. Sometimes, there’s just that thin line between heroics and embarrassment and it was that alternate choice or decision. It may hurt and we will suffer the consequence regardless. Albeit, one thing we overlook to have achieved is the discovery of what was on the other side of our intentions. And you really can’t beat a practical session with failure. It is often the best teacher. So I believe, no experience should ever be left dawdling on life’s threshing floor — for in the pressing, the crushing, the celebrations, the tearing, you are making the fine wine which comes with time and experience. In this light, I take even peculiar loving to Sasha Sloan’s song “Older”, which sings the line: “The older I get, the more that I see…”; highlighting the understanding and clarity experiential learning comes with and its priceless contribution to growth (You really should check out the Song!).
Thus, from today, purpose to count it all; failed relationships, blessed marriages, falls-from-grace, promotions, scars, broken hearts, disappointments, missed chances, moments-of-glory, exaltation and humblings as courses in Life’s Master Class. Cry in defeat, but move on. Rejoice in success, but also move on.
Like fine wine, get better with every experience! The journey is beautiful — don’t intend on wasting any single bit of it.
Be a Kintsugi, mend every breakage with the Gold-of-a-lesson-learnt and bask in your beauty!
~ Michael
