Learning from A to Zzzzz

Learning my ABCs was one of the first big “school things” I had to figure out. I can still picture those oversized letters lining the top of the chalkboard and remember how serious it felt to get them right—especially when the teacher pointed at you during the alphabet song. It was the beginning of learning for me, and at the time, it felt like a very big deal.

But over the years, I’ve come to realize learning didn’t stop with the alphabet—it just got more complicated. Some lessons came from classrooms, others from life. Some were planned, most caught me off guard.

So I decided to take a new look at the ABCs—this time as a reflection on what I’ve learned so far. One letter at a time.

• A is for Asking Questions.

Learning doesn’t start with answers—it starts with curiosity. One thing I’ve always told my students and kids – The only stupid question is the one you don’t ask.

• B is for Being Wrong.

Oof. Not fun, but necessary. I’ve had to get comfortable with being wrong in order to grow. If you talk to Bradley, he’ll tell you that I’m always wrong when talking with him, but in actuality, I have to admit to being wrong once in a while.

• C is for Curiosity.

That little spark that keeps things interesting. It’s what turns the ordinary into something worth exploring. When working on computers, this becomes necessary as things are continually changing and without curiosity, I would never figure out how the new stuff works.

• D is for Doing the Work.

Sometimes learning is exciting. Sometimes it’s just showing up, putting in the time, and doing the un-glamorous stuff. This is a hard one many days.  So often, I’d like to just lay in bed all day and do nothing, but when I get up and actually do the work, it becomes a much more rewarding day.

• E is for Experience.

The best (and often toughest) teacher I’ve ever had. Real life has a way of drilling in lessons that stick. This one applies to the computer arena as well.  Real life experience has taught me much and made me a valuable asset to my company.  It’s one of the reasons that I have customers that ask to work with me and only me.

• F is for Failure.

Not fun, not pretty—but absolutely part of the process. Some of my best lessons came wrapped in failure. Eventually. This isn’t one I’m going to expand on in detail because I don’t need to let everyone know about my failures, but rest assured, they are there and they have taught me a multitude of things.

• G is for Getting Comfortable with the Unknown.

Learning often means stepping into territory where the path isn’t clear. It’s uncomfortable, but that’s where real discovery happens. Growing up, I was horrible in this area. I played flute because Lisa did. I was a cheerleader because Lisa was. I learned Spanish because Lisa did. I went to Eau Claire for college because Lisa did. Watching Jessica doing things outside of her comfort zone has shown me how much I missed by not exploring the unknown more.

• H is for Help.

Asking for it used to feel like weakness. Now I see it as wisdom. None of us are meant to learn everything alone. This one is hard for the me that is a control freak, but can prove to be freeing to employ.  Just this past Easter, I wanted everything to be perfect, and have everything ready when people arrived, but I misestimated my available time and asked for help from the family that showed up early to help arrange the food, empty the garbage and serve drinks.

• I is for Imperfection.

Learning is not linear. I’ve had to let go of perfection and embrace progress instead. No one is perfect and if you wait for perfection to happen, it may never occur.  When working at my job, I want every document that I send out to be 100% perfection, but it’ll never be to that level and even if I think it’s perfect, it may not be exactly what the client wants.  

• J is for Joy.

The joy of figuring something out, of discovering something new, of surprising yourself. Learning isn’t just work—it can be delight, too. When I figure out a new way to speed up a process, or I make a template to create the Sidetracked Sisters meeting agendas easier, that brings me such joy.  But I can also feel joy from color coding my calendar.  I’m easy in this respect.

• K is for Knowing When to Let Go.

Sometimes the lesson is about releasing what no longer serves—an idea, a goal, or an old version of yourself. This also applies to the clutter in your home.  Letting go is a freeing concept.  

• L is for Listening.

Not just to respond, but to understand. I’ve learned more when I’ve stopped talking and truly tuned in. So many times, I would find myself not even listening to what someone is saying because I’m thinking about my response and I can end up missing the entire point of the discussion.  Listening to someone and giving them your full attention is valuable in any relationship to make the other person feel valued and heard.

• M is for Momentum.

Sometimes learning doesn’t happen in big leaps—it’s the small, consistent steps that build up over time. Keeping that momentum going is what turns effort into progress.  It’s hard to keep the momentum going on something new or a change you want to implement in your life, but it’s worth it in the end.

• N is for Noticing.

Sometimes the biggest lessons are in the details. Taking the time to notice things—whether it’s a subtle shift in a conversation or a small change in a pattern—can open the door to a deeper understanding. Taking the time to pay attention to what is happening around you can make a big difference in your day.

• O is for Openness.

Being open to new ideas, new people, new ways of thinking—it’s how I keep growing. I’m not the best at this. I’m a creature of habit and I really don’t like change, but I’m trying to keep an open mind when change needs to happen.

• P is for Patience.

Progress takes time. And learning doesn’t always happen on my timeline. (Hard truth.) As my Sidetracked Sisters can attest to, I frequently lack patience.  I wish I was better at this, but it’s not always easy.

• Q is for Questions.

The better the question, the deeper the learning. “What if?” and “Why not?” have taken me places “How?” never could. I started using this when the kids were younger when I would ask myself “Why am I saying No to their request? Is it a valid reason for saying no?”

• R is for Reflection.

Stopping to think about what I’ve learned is just as important as learning it in the first place.   used to plow through life like it was a checklist—do the thing, move on, don’t look back. But reflection forces me to slow down and ask: What worked? What didn’t? Why did I say that weird thing at the meeting last week? It’s not always comfortable (especially when the lesson involves admitting I was wrong… again), but it’s where the real growth happens. 

• S is for Showing Up.

Let’s be honest—there are days when “showing up” feels like a heroic act. I’m talking about the mornings when the bed is warm, the coffee’s not strong enough, and the to-do list looks like a cruel joke. But I’ve learned that half the battle (okay, maybe more like 75%) is just being there—whether it’s for work, family, or myself. Showing up doesn’t mean having it all together or being the most prepared person in the room. Sometimes it just means dragging your butt out of bed, putting on real pants (or at least the kind that look like real pants on Zoom), and doing something. 

• T is for Trying Again.

Turns out, most things aren’t one-and-done. I’ve learned way more from messing up and circling back than from getting it right the first time. Trying again isn’t failure—it’s persistence (and sometimes forgetfulness, if I’m being honest).

• U is for Understanding.

Not just memorizing facts or nodding along while someone talks—real understanding is when things finally click. It’s that moment when the fog clears and I go, “Ohhh… that’s what that meant.” I’ve learned that understanding doesn’t always show up on the first try—or even the fifth. Sometimes it takes hands-on experience, a mistake or two, and maybe a frustrated Google search at 11 p.m. But once it sticks, it sticks. And honestly, there’s no better feeling than turning confusion into clarity—especially when I can explain it to someone else and pretend I knew it all along.

• V is for Vulnerability.

It’s not fun, but it’s necessary. Being vulnerable means admitting I don’t have it all figured out (shocking, right?). It’s about owning mistakes and showing up messy. As much as I hate it, vulnerability is where growth happens—because pretending to have all the answers is exhausting.

• W is for Wonder.

Remember when everything felt new and exciting? I’ve learned that wonder doesn’t have to stop when you grow up. It’s the little things—a perfect sunset, a new discovery at work, or a silly moment with the kids—that keep me curious and finding magic in the everyday.

• X is for eXperiments.

Okay, I know, I’m cheating a little here, but hear me out—life is basically one big experiment, right? Every time I try something new, I’m testing out what works and what doesn’t. Sometimes it’s a new recipe, other times it’s a random idea at work (like, “Hey, let’s see if this new method actually makes my life easier…spoiler alert: it probably won’t, but I’ll try anyway”). Not everything is going to be a success, but every failure teaches me something. So, I’m learning to embrace the chaos of trying things I’m not sure about. Because if I don’t, I’ll never know what could work—and where’s the fun in that?

• Y is for Yet.

That little word is a game-changer. When I don’t get something, I remind myself: I don’t know this yet. It’s a nice excuse to stop stressing and trust that, with time and some effort, I’ll figure it out. Maybe. Eventually.

• Z is for Zzzs.

Let’s be real—learning doesn’t happen when you’re running on fumes. I’ve learned the hard way that if I don’t prioritize sleep, nothing works. No amount of coffee can replace the brainpower I get from a good night’s sleep. Sleep is the unsung hero of growth—it’s when the brain does its best processing, making sense of everything I’ve learned. So, as much as I love pushing through late-night deadlines or scrolling endlessly, I’ve come to accept that hitting the pillow is just as important as hitting my goals. Even though I still tend to pull all nighters.

And there you have it—my grown-up ABCs. Who knew those oversized letters on the chalkboard were just the beginning of a lifelong game of “figure it out as you go”? Turns out, learning never really ends—it just gets messier, louder, and occasionally involves coffee and crying. But hey, at least now I get to make my own alphabet… and no one’s pointing at me to sing.

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