When we’re young and in school, we tend to look forward to life after graduation as a time of freedom from all things scholastic. Since school is so mentally taxing and takes so many years to complete, it is exciting to think about the time when you no longer have to study. However, when you graduate, it is important to keep learning. Fortunately, you can choose whatever you want to pour your energies into learning – and at your own pace – but, it is imperative that you keep learning. Humans were never meant to stop learning at any point of our lives. Learning new things is not only beneficial to us, but to our loved ones as well. The more we keep our minds working, the younger and stronger our minds will be throughout our lifetime!
Learning something together can be great for your relationship as long as you both enter into the process to have fun. Maybe you’ve both found an interest in photography? Maybe you would like to learn a different language like Spanish or American Sign Language? Perhaps you both want to learn more about history or science? Whatever the subject, enjoy learning about it together. It is fun to conquer something together as long as one or both people don’t turn the quest for knowledge into a competition; after all, this isn’t about grades. This is about learning something fun to enrich your lives and your relationship.
If you haven’t already, make a list of topics about which you would like to learn, have your boyfriend/girlfriend make a list also, and don’t share them until you are finished. After you have written about 20 topics on your lists, share them with each other. Take any subject or activity that matches off of your separate lists and start a joint list. Either starting now, or once you are married, plan to take one item per year (or more often, if you have the time) and pursue learning together. You both could go to a community college and audit a course, you could send away for a curriculum, or you can even ask a knowledgeable friend to teach you. It doesn’t have to be expensive to learn!
After you have your joint list started, you can brainstorm other things that you would like to learn together. Being certified in CPR and First Aid by the Red Cross are good options. Maybe you want to become a better swimmer or a faster cyclist. These can all go on your joint list as long as both parties express an interest in the subject.
There are a few ways you could go about documenting this. For those of you who have a kindergarten teacher’s heart, you may want to start a sticker chart and collect stickers every time you conquer a new learning experience together. If you prefer something a bit more adult in nature, you could keep a scrapbook of your different experiences; or, at the very least, a three ring binder that highlights all of your learning experiences. For years after your classes, you can look back and remember all the things you learned together. You will enjoy a lot of laughs and it will increase intimacy in your relationship if you will make a point to keep learning together. Remember, this is supposed to be fun… so, if it becomes stressful, move onto something else!
What do you want to learn with your boyfriend, girlfriend, fiancée or spouse?
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