Life is a school. From day one until old age it can bring new discoveries and help us to grow. But many people hold the attitude that once they leave high school, college or grad school that they’re exempt from learning. They’ve passed the tests, received the diplomas and they have no more to learn. They shut down their minds and close the door to the school house.

Life learning does not stop when school’s out and it doesn’t necessarily take place in a school setting. When we are open and pay attention we can continue to learn about ourselves, improve and grow. Life teaches us through the situations it presents in relationships, through difficulty and in hardships. Sometimes the situations that seem painful and bring discomfort propel us into the greatest periods of learning about ourselves. They can break us open and help us to transform.

Today when you wake up, imagine a  yellow school bus arrives and you decide to get on.  In your imagination, ride it throughout the day and see where it takes you. Learning requires an attitude of openness to make mistakes and curiosity about the unknown. Where does your school bus go and what do you learn? Sometimes life subjects tolerance, kindness and compassion. What will you major in during this lifetime? Remember you’re never too old to grow.

Bio: Debra Moffitt is author of Awake in the World: 108 Practices to Live a Divinely Inspired Life. A visionary and teacher, she’s devoted to nurturing the spiritual in everyday life. She leads workshops on spiritual practices at the Sophia Institute and other venues in the U.S. and Europe. Her mind/body/spirit articles, essays and stories appear in publications around the globe and were broadcast by BBC World Services Radio. She has spent over fifteen years practicing meditation, working with dreams and doing spiritual practices. Visit her online at http://www.awakeintheworld.com.