“Lessons are earned, not learned,” (G Shetuni). Let us examine this quote a little bit. I think it is true, that lessons are earned through painful experience. For example when you are a kid, your parents may teach you: “Don’t go near the fire because it is hot.” But you probably won’t listen! And so you wind up going next to the fireplace and stick your hand above it, and you learn for yourself that fire is hot and potentially dangerous. But you earned that knowledge, by almost burning yourself; you didn’t learn it from what mom or dad may have told you.
Another example, let’s say the speed limit reads “35” and you do “55”, and a cop pulls you over and hands you a speeding ticket. The lesson here is: “Don’t speed!” But didn’t your parents, and your friends tell you not to speed before you got that ticket? Of course! It’s common knowledge. But earned knowledge is far more powerful than learned knowledge. Learned knowledge is easily stepped over, earned knowledge stays with you, and makes you wiser and stronger.
Another example, let’s say you believe “the grass is greener on the other side.” For example, let’s say you live in a small town, but believe the grass is greener in New York. So you just have to go there! But then, after living in the big apple a few months, you realize your hometown ain’t so bad, and that life in the big city ain’t all you thought it was. And so you learned that the grass is not greener on the other side. But did you really learn this lesson? No, you didn’t learn it! You earned it! By going to New York and painstakingly seeing for yourself. Lessons are earned not learned.
