Whether they’re a hardened mercenary or a peace-loving monk, the main characters in martial arts films are always dedicated to what they do. It’s clear that they’ve devoted their lives to their art and everything is connected to it in some way. It’s their passion.
What if we had that same level of passion for learning? Some people definitely do, but think about it for a minute. We’re learning almost constantly, even if what we’re learning is small things like, “I’m out of milk.” If you didn’t know, realize, or think of something before a given point you have learned. Do you recognize these moments as learning and see their connections to the rest of your life?
What would Learning be like as a martial arts-style movie? I can’t speak for the whole film, but here’s the trailer:*
[Soft music plays]
DRAMATIC ANNOUNCER VOICE:
Kept down by years of monotony
[Row of cubicles]
One person will dare to rise above
[Door to the Learning & Development department opens, MAIN CHARACTER approaches MENTOR]
MENTOR:
Why are you here?
MAIN CHARACTER:
I want to learn.
MENTOR:
Learn what?
MAIN CHARACTER:
Everything.
[Dramatic music plays, montage of “Ah ha!” moments]
MENTOR:
You must go beyond these four walls. Expand your mind and see the possibilities.
[VILLAIN watching security camera footage of MAIN CHARACTER]
VILLAIN:
So, this one seeks to challenge me. I’m going to teach them a lesson in humility.
[MAIN CHARACTER and LOVE INTEREST talking over dinner]
LOVE INTEREST:
You’ve changed. What happened?
MAIN CHARACTER:
I’ve embraced something I’ve had all along. I just never stopped to realize it was there.
[VILLAIN taunting MAIN CHARACTER]
VILLAIN:
You’ve taken on an impossible task. Surely you know this?
MAIN CHARACTER:
Even if it’s impossible, I will continue learning until my dying breath!
DRAMATIC ANNOUNCER VOICE:
Learning.
This film is not yet rated and doesn’t actually exist.
It is not coming soon to a theater near you.
It’s a dramatization, but what movie isn’t? Learning is a default part of life. We can gloss over it it, complain about it, or embrace it. Granted, facing something new or complex can be pretty intimidating. I bet you the Main Character thinks about quitting at some point in the movie and going back to “when things were easier” instead. But imagine being genuinely excited about something that’s happening almost constantly throughout your whole life. Wouldn’t that be great? The fact that it can lead to new opportunities and help keep your mind sharp isn’t too shabby either.
Is learning a passion for you or is it something that just happens? Would you be “young grasshopper” or a sensei in the Learning movie? Either way, learning is a lifelong process.
* I’m aware that this does not follow proper screenplay formatting. It was written this way to make it accessible to a wider audience.
If you’d like to read more about learning theory, check out the rest of this author’s blogs.
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