I am a huge believer in continuing to learn post-graduation. It doesn’t need to be formal, and it doesn’t matter what caliber of degree or certifications you hold, it only matters that you don’t stop where you left off. We live in a time where information is everywhere and we know we can learn anything we want just by Google-ing it. However, we are also extremely lucky to have access to so much information. In the past most people were illiterate and books and other forms of knowledge were written in languages that could not be understood by the common people. Rather than take the wealth of information available to us for granted, we should embrace it fully! Once you are done with formal schooling to whatever level is best for your life, pursue topics that you find interesting at your own pace. Psychology, mechanics, politics, anthropology, astronomy, history. If you have an interest in absolutely anything you can find someone who is dispensing it in a manner that makes the most sense for you. If you are a visual, auditory, tactile/kinesthetic, reading, or any combination of the four learning styles you can tailor your learning to your pace and your preferences. Like any muscle our minds need constant work and puzzles in order to stay plastic (flexible) and help us to problem solve faster and more efficiently.
I have below a list of my personal favorite ways that I continue to learn. Some are completely free, others have costs associated with them, but they are relatively low in cost. By making what I learn what I enjoy learning about in ways that I enjoy and find useful, I have continued to learn a great deal since I graduated with my bachelors degree in May 2018. Everyone loves to learn, it’s just a manner of finding what you like!
That’s my list of favorite my ways of continuing education past traditional schooling. I like taking in information from as many different mediums as I can because people will say or frame things differently and may make a concept suddenly click, or a topic or field suddenly more intriguing. Plus, the more you know the more you can shout the answers when watching Jeopardy. 😉 Do you have a favorite method of learning? Were any of these something you hadn’t thought of or tried before? Let me know in the comments below! This is my last post before Christmas, it’s actually live on Christmas Eve. So, have a wonderful Christmas or holiday this year! Maybe find some time to partake in some learning, and pursue something interesting to you. Much Love, Jess
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Like any celebration, event or routine, the holidays can be stressful or laid-back, memorable or forgotten, positive or negative, eco-friendly or not so eco-friendly. While we live in a culture, society, and system that is big on single use, throw away, and ever-changing items that we might feel we need to ‘keep up’ with everyone else, we don’t have to succumb to every one of those ideals. It is extremely difficult, expensive, and time-consuming to make every area of your life low-impact. For many it is completely unattainable due to any number of lack of resources such as time, money, availability of low-impact alternatives, or knowledge of what is actually good for the environment or not. While many low-impact influencers are doing an exceptional job of showing how they have made huge, radical changes in their life that allow them to live such low-impact lives, it is honorable and a positive influence, but it can also make the average person feel like they aren’t doing enough. That because we aren’t doing everything that they are we aren’t making a positive impact, which can make us feel like ‘what’s the point?’. I want to put all of that aside. Wanting to make a difference is 100% the first step, wanting to do anything shows you care, and in time that will show up in the choices you make. Every small choice we make adds up. Not everyone has to live a perfectly low-impact lifestyle, but every choice you make is voting with your dollar, is making a statement to those around you that this is important to me, and does in fact matter. How does this translate to the holiday season? I have some fun ideas for how to make your holidays less wasteful, more eco-friendly, more cost-effective, and a little more guilt free!
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Have a wonderful holiday season this last December of the decade! Much love, Jess For October 31st’s Halloween celebration this year I decided to stay in Estes Park, Colorado. My first choice was Salem, MA buuut I decided to book the trip too last minute and there weren’t any hotels or AirBnB’s available in the area. Sad and disappointed I was forced to nix that plan and come up with something different. It dawned on me that I live less than an hour from the infamous Stanley Hotel, yes the one that inspired Stephen King to write the Shining, and I had never been inside before. I booked a room for Halloween Night and all my sorrows were gone! The Stanley is on the expensive side, I paid about $250 a night, but it is a historic hotel with a lot of history and conveniently placed close to town and all the major attractions of Estes Park, Colorado. Not far from Rocky Mountain National Park, a mere 5 minute drive to downtown, and the hotel itself having several attractions, I would certainly recommend it. The Stanley has a historic tour and a ghost tour, a restaurant, a café, a bar, in-house performances, two mazes on the front lawn, and more. The Stanley Hotel’s main building opened in 1909 but is in great condition, mixing its history with the modern necessities of your everyday hotel needs. I stayed in a single Queen room. It had a large closet, a dresser, a bathroom with all the amenities (the shower was certainly made for shorter people however), free cable and Wi-Fi, a Keurig and complementary coffee. I found the room to be very nice and spacious and exactly what I needed. I was only one person, more than 1 or even 2 would feel a bit crowded. For instance, you wouldn’t have space for a roll-away bed in that size room. I found the room and the hotel to be absolutely beautiful, charming, historic and would gladly stay there again! I took The Stanley’s Ghost Tour and found it to be a wonderful mixture of history and spooks. The ghosts at The Stanley are friendly and not malicious or creepy, just quirky, playful, and unique. We were shown the infamous room 217 that Stephen King stayed in, as well as given a tour of one of the larger rooms in The Stanley. This tour would be fine for kids or adults, there are only so many spaces available each night so be sure to book your tickets in advance. What else is there to do in Estes Park for Halloween? Well, all the downtown shops stay open until 5pm so you can browse and shop the day away! There are also lots of candy shops, restaurants, café’s and more. In the Old Church Shops there is a fantastic coffee shop called Raven’s Roast and I simply adore this place! It has a lovely atmosphere and aesthetic that you don’t want to miss! I went there twice while in Estes Park, the second time I sat on the couch and read while drinking my latte and was happy as could be. At 5pm on Halloween night all the shops on main street close down and Halloween begins! All the shops put out bowls of candy and decorations as people and animals come dressed for trick-or-treating. People of all ages are encouraged to participate and to get in on the treats. Several times the shop owners insisted that we take some candy. And at least one candy shop was handing out caramel apples! Afterwards you could grab some dinner, catch a show at the Stanley, or get a drink at a local bar or pub. It’s a great family-friendly place to spend Halloween! Review and Tips for Estes on Halloween?
I hope you get a chance to see Estes Park, Colorado someday! Better yet, try to visit during Halloween to have a fun and memorable experience at this unexpected but noteworthy Halloween destination. Much Love, Jess |
AuthorJessica Marie Cunningham - Intentional lifestyle blogger, aspiring author, and podcast host. All things Slow Living, Books, Writing, Art, creativity, Christianity, and personal stories. Archives
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