Increasing awareness of who you are

One of the joys of midlife is that we increase in awareness of who we truly are. We not only spent time shedding the parts that no longer fit, but we begin to discover new pleasures. We also rediscover old pleasures, hobbies and activities that got put down long the way. Sometimes we go back to them for our own pleasure, and other times to teach the skills to others.

We also increase in awareness that we need to take better care of ourselves. We may have been able to party and eat what we wanted in our twenties and thirties, but by midlife the effects begin to kick in. Often we can undo some of the consequences by eating better and exercising, but can also make changes that will improve our health down the road by have check ups.

For many there us a new found satisfaction that comes from creating things. Freed from the limitations imposed on us by bygone teachers and peers, we are willing to try things we were previously told we were dreadful at. Many adults take up drawing, painting, piano lessons or learning a new process to see if they can do it now, and others simply for the pleasure the joy of learning and creating brings.

With opening ourselves to all these new activities and the joy of creating, we are also aware that our time is more precious. As a result many teachers find that adult learners make much more interesting students as they are very invested in succeeding, and want to make progress.