Do You Use What You Know?

“Zeal will do more than knowledge.” – William Hazlitt

In today’s world, we have all the information possible, at our fingertips. It used to be if you wanted to research another country, topic, a person, you had to either own an encyclopedia set or take a trip to the public library. Today, if you want to research something, all you have to do is pull out your phone, and with a strong internet connection, you can have any type of information you can imagine with a simple look on Google. I remember back when I was in school, I needed to research something; my grandparents would take me to the downtown library. We would have to ask the librarian to help us know where to look using the library card catalog. I remember when they added a few computers to search for books at the library. Today, it is much easier to research a topic. When I am posting about a particular place I have visited, I will often research that place before I share it with everyone.

Thinking about how we have all the knowledge in the world easily accessible, what do you do with this knowledge? For me, I try to use what I have learned and know to make the world around me a better place. I use what I learn to be a more effective educator, a better friend, a better parent, and a better husband. If I take what I learn and keep it to myself, what good is it? If I am not helping those around me be better people, then I am not being the best person I can be. When you learn something, share it. Take the time and use what you know to make the world a better place.

Last summer, while we were camping, my son and I hiked over to South Mountain State Park. We started at the river trail near the main entrance. I loved this part of the park. The water in the river was so clear. We only saw a few people at this point, and we hiked down the river as far as we could.