Origin of Learning, by Jerika Perthuis

I am a ticket holder. My needle is ready, with layered thread. I see a future and put one step in at a time, towards the dream.

But, I did not arrive at this transcendent, evolved, know thyself, understanding of drive. I was born into this understanding, with a Father, telling me to divide and conquer intimidation one box at a time. With a Mother, telling me to stop dwelling inside of a lily white world. With a teacher taking me aside after I had given a very ill-prepared presentation, and telling me that I had a natural gift for speaking.

These formative affirmations have been a consistent undercurrent my entire life, but now, what is the value of my knowledge and strengths if they remain, only in me. Whatever you teach children today, travels with them, far into the future. So, poignantly said, by the children's author Mary Pope Osbourne. What a stirring inside of each of us, patiently waiting to be launched, despite intimidation, despite a clear path forward.

Whatever we teach today is ready, and the only entity holding the key is our own deep understanding of Who We Are, in ourselves, and in others. There is no perfect time, there is no perfect idea, only a perfect posture of humility and service to those treasured with equity and grace. The breadth of learning, the practice of pivoting, the grit of perseverance, reaches behind each of us, thousands of years. How we engage, how we love, how we show others, now, will continue on with the same effect.

An origin of learning is only the start.

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