Chia,
I like the idiom "cultivate the mind". For me, education is so much of cultivation, quite literally. It's like what a farmer does, you till the land, sow the seed, harvest, and till again and again and again. I like the tilling bit. It's earthy and real and it's also in my opinion the most powerful bit about learning, the unlearning bit. To explain to you, it's like how we move from one class to another learning almost similar concepts. Each time, in each higher class we question and build upon what was learnt in the previous class. From whatever I have studied in the formal education system, I think it was basically driving me to this point where I could learn to create new knowledge by thinking about what I learnt and supplementing it with my own knowledge and imagination. It's powerful and liberating when you create new knowledge . The feeling is breathtaking.
But to get to this point my love, you have to practice and train your mind in the art of thinking. You will have to till, sow and harvest and continue to do so, hopefully and perhaps all your life. Never stop learning my dear, however old you may be. Always seek and accept knowledge, not only from those you are older and wiser but the younger ones, they have a treasure trove of curiosity. Cherish this curiosity, your own and theirs. Explore, discover, live dream and learn. Learn some
thing new, anything, everyday.
Study to train your mind. Learn math for logic, revel in the languages because they hold the keys to all knowledge. In science use your five senses, in humanities learn carefully about our world and where we came from. Cultivate your mind my love, for only then will you have any crop to harvest!
Love
Mummy
