Are you a fast learner?
Some people are. I think I am not.
It will have to take me time to “Get It!”
I envy people who learn quickly. I wished I could be a fast learner.
And then one day I realized there are many people who can learn fast but they forget fast. There are people who learn quickly but get bored easily.
Now I know myself better. The reason why I am a slow learner it is because I want to internalize everything I learn. I want what I learn to be a part of me.
I find it hard to memorize. When people come to me and ask me the question: “Francis, don’t you remember me?” It’s one of the most uncomfortable moments for me. Now I have a standard response. I would smile and then suddenly look serious and say, “I have a brilliant memory but it’s too short and it’s low on battery.”
This is why this article from the famous comedian Dave Barry caught my attention. The title of the article is “Slow Learner.”
And these are the things Dave Barry said:
Things it took me over 50+ years to learn.
- Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.
- If you had to identify, in one word, the reason why the human race has not achieved, and never will achieve, its full potential, that word would be “meetings.”
- There is a very fine line between “hobby” and “mental illness.”
- People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours with them.
- You should not confuse your career with your life.
- Nobody cares if you can’t dance well. Just get up and dance. (This one is very important)
- Never lick a steak knife.
- The most destructive force in the universe is gossip.
- You will never find anybody who can give you a clear and compelling reason why we observe daylight savings time.
- You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests that you think she’s pregnant unless you can see an actual baby emerging from her at that moment.
- There comes a time when you should stop expecting other people to make a big deal about your birthday. That time is age 11.
- The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we ALL believe that we are above average drivers.
- A person, who is nice to you, but rude to a waiter, is not a nice person. (This is very important. Pay attention. It never fails.)
- Your friends love you anyway.
- Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic.
- Thought for the day: Men are like fine wine. They start out as grapes; and it’s up to the women to stomp the yogurt out of them until they turn into something acceptable to have dinner with.
So there you are. I am in good company.
I’m a slow learner too.
It took me years to realize that those I have loved and cared for could one day turn against me and try to destroy me.
I have learned that every person changes. We just have to make sure we change for the better and not for the worst.
I have learned that having a fun and smiling family is worth more than all the wealth and riches we could accumulate in our lifetime.
And I have learned that having an intimate relationship with Christ is not being religious but being sure that i get to spend the rest of eternity with Him.
Don’t make a big deal out of being a slow learner. It’s always better than those who never learned at all.
I like this post very much! I learned so many it, especially the tips!
I admit I’m a fast learner who gets bored easily. lol. But sometimes I’m also a slow learner since I value being critical on things which especially interest me. :>
Thanks for making my day!
God bless you!
Thank you sir Francis for a refreshing reminder …that being a slow learner has its high points and it does not mean the end of the world. I have to admit that sometimes it is important to go slow in learning, especially in internalizing and knowing the lessons to heart, rahter than breeze by only to forget the lesson and or to retrace ones step again just to get back at the alleged learned lesson. Have a pleasant and productive week sir. Reading your articles and also collecting your books (while reading them as well) is always a welcome activity for me….it is always a learning experience. God bless you and your family.
Sincerely,
Kenneth
i agree..i agree..i agree….right smack….people who think they are smart are not really smart sometimes…if i may add sir.
especially the Thought for the Day! hahaha i know of men who always say this tagline…that they are like fine wine as they age…funny that they never thought of what goes on in between hehe
thank you for this Francis! more power!
Hi Sir Francis, now I know that its not really a problem to be a slow learner. I was once rejected by being a slow learner in one company, I even called as worthless and miserable by my manager at that time. but now I realized that there’s a sense of being a slow learner. It’s not that I am BOBO. is just that I want to fully understand what I am doing. Thank you so much Sir Francis.
This is very inspiring… now I need not to worry when I feel that I am slow learner .. ‘coz .. it sometimes happens to people … 😉
I’m glad you wrote it……
AWESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (goes with “e” at the end! ) lol
this is a very inspiring testimonial, specially to slow learners like me 😀
that explains why can’t i memorize things, becuz i learn them
nice sir..i am a slow learner too..and now i know y..b4 i was worried about that baka wla akong pa22nguhan but sbi nyo nga dahil pala pag na22 nako sa isang bagay it also last for a lyf tym..
Thanks for that very inspiring articles.. now I know that I’am slow learner too.. God has a purpose for everything
sir francis,you really are inspiring us with your word of wisdom,hope our company will invite you to be our speaker and so that i could meet you in person..your my idol..more power sir.
awesome! from now on nobody cares if i can’t dance well. I will ust get up and dance.
that’s why i am patient enough for my pupils who r slow learners. yes indeed some learned fast but easy to forget , the fact that you learned is the most important thing not the way how you did it
thank you Sir for this very beautiful and inspairing message
don’t rush… just live, love, and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the world….
This is a very inspiring message. Now, I understand why you cannot remember me. You have a brilliant memory but it’s too short. I was introduced to you three times and every time we meet thereafter, you don’t recognize me. Haha.
Hannah is a former student.
You are very inspiring Mr Kong. Keep on speaking and writing. We need to hear and read more from you.
That a good piece of putting it right with people that are worried about their slowness.
I was always depressed to be a slow learner.Then I came to find out a formula for slow and fast learners. It’s like, a fast learner follows an arithmetic progression beginning with a big number while a slow learner follows an exponential progression beginning with a very small number. It might take a little time(sometimes too much time) but it’s good.
Wonderful article. I, too, am a slow learner. At age 70 I finally asked why. I think I’m ok.
Inspiring article! thank you sir! 🙂
Sir, thank you for your very inspiring article. I’m one of the slow learner too especially at work. I told my supervisor, don’t expect too much from me because i’m a slow learner. I was surprised of her answer. She said don’t worry about it that’s the one I like to a worker. Big question mark for me until then, but now I knew the answer to my own question.
My college years had made me learn in a jiffy yet forget immediately. It has been my goal to internalize the things at school and it has made me frustrated because there doesn’t seem to be enough time. Thank you sir for this encouragement
Thx Francis! Now, I’ve learned to admit that there are times or should I say most of the time that I am a slow learner too. Before it was hard to accept it, because there is always a negative connotation on that word. But seeing a successful person with the same struggle helps me/us to realize and accept our weaknesses and eventually use it as our strong weapon.
Lord bless you & more blessings!
Thank you for your honesty. We are all works in progress.
Like a wow! Sir, this is inspiring I just failed the last CPA board examinations. My ratings were really close but really wasn’t enough. I can’t be sad knowing now that I have the capacity or the potential to pass and just needed more push. Also, I have a very good support group, so I really feel just fine. But reading this, made me feel even better. Certainly, I’ m a slow learner myself too, I accept that and I’ m moving forward. ^_^
Great attitude Tonyo. God bless you.