Nature’s constant educational system and the classrooms of evolution.
I have just finished listening to the audiobook The War of Art by Steven Pressfield, and it really made me reflect on how our resistance to life is merely a resistance to learning and accepting the subject we were meant to master from inception.
We often hear phrases like “our calling” or “our purpose,” which are the blueprints given to us by God, the Divine, or Source—choose your label. Each of us possesses an innate talent and something we are naturally good at. This is what we were put on Earth to master and experience, contributing to the overall evolution of the great oneness.
I apologize to those who don’t appreciate all this esoteric talk, but I struggle to find other words that resonate with me at the moment. There is something mysterious that guides each of our lives. Although we cannot see it, we all know it’s there; otherwise, we wouldn’t be breathing, and our hearts wouldn’t be pumping on their own. Something energetically keeps them going, like the waves on the ocean.
Now, regarding the topic at hand: “The Classroom of Life” is where we all find ourselves today. No matter where you are on your journey—whether you are a child, an adult, or a wise elder—the learning continues.
We can’t escape it. Yes, we can delay it through procrastination or mindless activities that serve no real value to the world, but deep down, we know when we are not moving forward and growing.
I’m currently in frustrated regarding my creativity, as I believe this is my calling. I love writing and singing, but I hardly engage in either activity these days. My writing has started to flow once more, but my singing ceased when I was a teenager. I still sang at karaoke and in the car, but overall, my real dream of becoming a singer died at 17.
You may wonder why I chose to stop singing from the heart at that age and to follow it wherever it may have taken me at that time.
Well, I listened to outside influences, one was a school career advisor who told me that singing wasn’t a career that would earn me money—it was hard work, and many do not succeed. Plus, I come from a working-class background and my parents also had not followed their creative gifts; and I felt I had to do the same. Therefore, I sought a career path within administration which wasn’t very creative but would provide me with more stability in terms of money.
So, that is why I stopped. Additionally, my father passed away around that time, and the combination of these two heartbreaking events led me to numb my true calling and just do what was expected of me.
THE PASSING OF TIME
I turned 50 a year ago, and it hit me like a bolt of lightning that my life is halfway through. I don’t know how much longer I’ve got here. I just know I have less time to pursue my dreams—or what I am referring to as my truth—but I know I need to somehow get the ball rolling and finish life knowing I gave it a shot.
So here I am, writing a blog, and I intend to carry this on, even though my start has been slightly intermittent. After listening to the audio The War of Art, I have Mr. Pressfield and the beautiful writing coach Kelly Morgan at Creative Life Writer to thank for inspiring me to get moving creatively once again.
THE CLASSROOMS OF LIFE
Now, to shift back to you, the reader, I want to express what life looks like with its ever-evolving classes of evolution.
There are phases to learn, which we can observe physically through the body. Let me break down the phases to help you identify the class you are currently in (probably past the Baby phases here) and what you may be able to take away from them.
CLASSROOM BABY
Welcome to planet Earth! We land with a bang, just like the Big Bang. Did you know that some newborn babies are spanked into this world; it is the doctor’s way of stimulating the first cry. How wonderful, huh? What a traumatic first experience! It can shape you in very different ways, depending on the sensitivity of your blueprint as it was downloaded into you.
You have arrived in Classroom Baby, where you learn about your body and all its functions.
You learn what hunger is and that you need to cry to get the sustenance that provides energy and alleviates that hunger.
When you eat food, you suddenly feel the urge to poop. Obviously, this is not conscious but experiential learning instead.
In this phase, you are also learning about your parents and people in general; your senses are starting to develop.
You begin to hear your parents’ voices and see their faces.
You smell food and notice various things in your environment. You get to pick things up, and everything is brand new, so you are full of curiosity.
This is when your foundations about the world and your place within it begin to take shape.
CLASSROOM TODDLER
In this stage of evolutionary learning, you suddenly start walking and using your voice to make sounds and form simple words.
You begin to explore the world on your own without being carried by your care givers.
You are now navigating your environment and all its unique objects, smells, and sounds.
With a new perspective of the world, you start interacting with other beings in novel ways.
You begin to determine what you like and dislike, distinguishing between what is safe and unsafe, which varies from individual to individual.
CLASSROOM CHILD
You’ve started learning language at school and how to engage with other peers.
Education begins to shape the meanings of the things around you—what has passed and what is to come.
Your body is continually growing and clothes choices start taking form as well as the identification that you are a body by seeing yourself in the mirror.
CLASSROOM TEENAGER
This is when hormones kick in, and you start feeling sensations in your body you haven’t experienced before.
This thing called love emerges as your body takes on adult shapes in preparation for procreation and all the other wonders of becoming a fully fledged human.
You are fully immersed in learning about how the world works—History, English, Math, and all the other subjects you may choose or decline, depending on where you decide (or are persuaded) to go in terms of your career aspirations.
I know not everyone has the luxury of choosing a set path, as you learn about money, which can be a significant roadblock in life, depending on how you were raised and how you personally view it.
CLASSROOM ADULT
In this stage, you are released from school and have made a decision to enter the working world or possibly pursue further education before stepping out to earn your keep.
This path is not always clear and can be as successful or distressful as you make it.
In this classroom the world has been shaped by all your previous experiences including education, relationships, and upbringing.
This period really shapes your personality and your current reality.
You may also decide to have a family and raise children, becoming a teacher in your own household.
CLASSROOM MATURE ADULT
This is when your children are getting older (if you are a parent), and you are also aging—hopefully, you’re gaining wisdom along the way.
You have experienced enough cycles of life to understand it at a deeper level.
You may find that you don’t repeat the same actions, or perhaps you need to revisit them to fully realize the truth of certain situations in your life.
You can reflect back on past experience and build new ones, hopefully not repeating old negative situations.
This is a real time of mid-life reflection and possibibly creating a totally new path. Like myself right now. 🙂
CLASSROOM ELDER
At this stage, things begin to slow down at a pace that is comfortable for you.
Some older people are very active, almost living a second lifetime. However in this class the body is decreasing it’s mobility, and starting to regress back to that childlike phase where you can’t do as much on your own, even though you may not want to admit it.
You begin to recognize the need for help or support, and you start to see the end in sight—the part we all tend to ignore as much as we can.
However, as Eckhart Tolle advocates to live in the present moment not the past or future. This is a classroom where I think this really starts to resonate.
I believe that when we stop fighting the inevitable, the transition becomes much more peaceful. I also feel that something inside each of us knows when it is time to go, when we have learned all we can, and it’s time to take back that knowledge to the source—the energy that first gave us life itself.
SUMMARY
Turning 50 really brought home how fast we travel through each of these classrooms and at this point in my life it became very clear why so many of us decide to change or transition in new ways.
As you begin to understand life from a deeper perspective and see how the choices you make shape your future path. My own struggle to engage with my creative calling serves as a reminder that we must confront our resistance and embrace the passions that light us up, regardless of societal expectations or past experiences. Never give up on your dreams.
If you are younger reading this post you may garner a perspective of where your life is headed right now and may decide to change or stay the course. No matter what you choose I hope in reading this post you find a level of understanding that helps you on your journey.
The “Classroom of Life” is a profound experience marked by continuous learning, growth, and self-discovery at every stage. As we navigate the various classes, from the innocent curiosity of infancy to the reflective wisdom of elderhood, we uncover not only our individual talents and passions but also the universal threads that connect us all.
Each phase of life brings valuable lessons, shaped by our experiences and the unique paths we’ve walked. Ultimately, by acknowledging and embracing our purpose, no matter how buried it may seem, we contribute to the collective evolution of humanity.
In the end, let’s remember that it’s never too late to return to our calling, express our creativity, and fully inhabit the classroom of life we were meant to explore. Our time here is finite, but the potential for growth and transformation is boundless.
Let us step forward, guided by the insights we’ve garnered, and strive to make the most of the time we have left—both for ourselves and for the greater whole.