If you’ve read some of my other blog posts, you probably gathered that I’m an incredibly curious person. I’ve always loved learning new things, figuring things out, and trying to understand how the world works. There is so much that I don’t know, including a wide range of subjects that I don’t even know exist. Fortunately, there are people who do know a great deal about these things and have created numerous resources through which they share their knowledge. These people have taught me much more in a few years than I could ever learn on my own in a lifetime of studying.
There have been so many occasions in which I’ve learned about something new or looked at something familiar from another angle. Through reading a lot of books that cover related subjects, I’ve noticed patterns and bits of information that come up repeatedly and seem to fit well together. For example, several of the books I read last year caused me to rethink a lot of things about our ability to make decisions and shaped my current position on free will. I also benefit from simply learning the way other people see the world. Sometimes I’ll stumble across an idea that I’ve thought about before but never heard anyone else discuss. These serendipitous moments have always caught me by surprise (especially when they happen at just the right time) and suggested to me that I’m on the right track in those areas.
I’m sure it would have a lot more gaps in my understanding if I hadn’t stood on the shoulders of many giants. Their works act as a guide or map for one small area of the world, and the ones I enjoy the most can explain complex ideas in simple, clear terms. Whenever I come across something that’s particularly inspiring, enlightening, healing, or otherwise useful, I like to pass it along so others can benefit from it. At this point, I can act as a bridge to a good deal of helpful and interesting information (most of which I’ve learned from other people, but there are a few things that I’ve figured out myself), and I regularly give recommendations to those close to me when they’re looking for help. I love doing that and I think that’s what I was put on Earth to do, so I look forward to a lifetime of pointing people toward things that will make their lives better.