Inevitable

It was bound to happen.

After writing my blog every week for more than ten years I’m sitting at my desk at 1:49 pm on Monday afternoon, wondering what I should write about.

In freshman psychology I learned that if you can’t solve a problem consciously, just stuff it into your subconscious and wait for the answer.  I even wrote a People Tool about that.

Hello, subconscious.  You don’t have much time left.

Aha!  Subconscious suggests writing the story of my Shakespeare class.  That’s as good an idea as any.

But as my subconscious often does these days – it forgot that I’ve already shared that story with you in a previous blog. But in case you are as forgetful as I am, (and I know many of us are) let me briefly remind you.  In my second year of law school, I was rather bored with law classes, so as a treat to myself I enrolled, at no extra cost, in an evening Shakespeare course.  This meant that I would be in class from 8:00 am until 9:45 pm, with only a short break for lunch.  Little did I realize how much I would enjoy that class or that it would turn out to be the very best class of my life.

During the second lecture, other students peppered the instructor, Dr. Alan Cason, with questions. “Save your questions for the end of my lecture.  I probably will have answered all your questions by then.” I thought he was arrogant, and promised myself I would have at least six questions for him at the end of class.  I even wrote them down.

Unfortunately, I failed to ask him any questions, because by the end of his lecture, he did, in fact, answer every question I’d thought of, as well as many I could never have imagined.

What brought this to mind was the lecture I attended last week by Thomas Friedman, long-time columnist for the New York Times.  His words were both informative and highly interesting. I was reminded, once again, how much I enjoy a fine lecture.

So, if you’re looking for something new to do, consider enrolling in an extension class, or attending a lecture.  The secret?  Pay no attention to the subject matter.  Just find someone who really knows her or his subject and can speak in a manner that is both informative and entertaining.

Not only are you likely to enjoy yourself, but it’s inevitable you’ll learn something too.

Alan