Learning From Experience

“We do not learn from experience... we learn from reflecting on experience.”― John Dewey, [NOT responsible for the Dewey Decimal System, however]

“When I saw, I reflected upon it; I looked, and received instruction.” Proverbs 24:32e.

These are two very similar sentiments, one from the book of Proverbs, some of which harks back to the third millennium B.C.E., and the other from an educator of the late 19th, early 20th century. So one could be forgiven for thinking that we have all learn this lesson, couldn’t one? Apparently not!

I found out recently, to my chagrin, that I was one of those who didn’t learn from experience. We were heading out on an overnight excursion, that began with my driving for just over two hours in the car. [Now the back story is that I have been dealing with a compressed muscle in my back for the past 3+ months that causes prolonged sitting in any position to be extremely painful]. I arrived at our destination having driven the last bit in extreme discomfort. I look a pill for the pain and proceeded to enjoy the rest of our stay. When the time same to leave, I drove the 2+ hours home with, surprise, the same result. Pain! However, the kicker of the story is that it took me ANOTHER 24 hours to realize that I should have been stopping at the coffee shop we past approximately 1/2 way on our journey. If not on the way there, then definitely on the way back! I obviously did not learn from my experience the first time, or the second time but only after additional time of reflection.

This led me [as a former teacher] to reflect on all the times in the past where I have been unable to understand WHY someone didn’t immediately see a course of action that was right there in front of them. It also pointed out to me why people and institutions seem unable to learn from, or to accept, things that are happening or changing right in front of them.. Without the necessary time for reflection on the experience, there will be no learning from that experience. And unfortunately in this fast paced society that believes in instant gratification reflection is almost a bad word.

“Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.” Will Rogers

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