Love, Curiosity & Learning

Posted on by Victoria

Hello there, September!  This month here at Heart of the Matter we’re focusing on curiosity and learning.  I love the concept of lifelong learning and acquiring new skills by being open and curious about the world.  Try as I might, in most instances of “new learning” I’m also laughing at my own misadventures.  I have a few blind spots where technology is concerned, and I wholeheartedly believe every ‘win’ is the result of luck more than expertise. 

Case in point?  I’m not a very good social media maven. Yes, yes. I fiddle with Instagram to promote blogging efforts, but novice is the word to describe what I’m doing.  (And excuse me while I ask – is it still called “Insta” by the more informed…and is the acronym “IG” still used?  I truly do not know the lingo for ‘the Gram’.  And is THAT the correct and somewhat hip way to refer to it? Or is that oh-so-2013-like?)

BUT — I enjoy puppy videos and funny ‘stories’ about people who sing and dance with abandon. I’m a sucker for heartfelt posts about everyday kindnesses, too.  Sometimes I’m struck by random wisdom that rolls in.  Preferring to assume the content is an accurate reflection of someone’s head and heart, I try not to dwell on questions of authenticity – especially when I like the post.  (Is that the right term for putting something on IG?  Do we say ‘feed’ instead?)

I loved this snippet that slid in, discovered as I scrolled through the aforementioned puppy stories this week:

Yes!  It’s our job to hold each other up – human to human, I say.  And no matter what you think about Instagram, I will confess this:   There are moments as I sit alone – just me and my phone – where I know for sure I’m smiling. 😁 Grinning.  Broadly and with abandon.  Especially when I trip over tidbits that I refer to as “little truths”.  Nuggets of delight that add sunshine to my day.  I don’t care if it’s contrived or real.  I like it because I like it. 

I also enjoy the travelogue treats – scenic pics of destinations a world away that are stunning. Awe-inspiring.  It feels like vicarious IG travel, these little adventures to places I may never see in person.  I especially love the historical content and vintage photos.  Reminders of where we’ve been in various cultural contexts.  Reminders to take care of ourselves, the planet.

Even though I lack technical expertise, I take my seat on the IG struggle bus each day and manage to get my social media work done.  This amateur really enjoys noodling with graphics.  It feeds my pseudo-inner-artist.  (I mean…have you seen Libby Saylor’s work?  She’s an inspiration!)  Still, I tinker and create images and then futz with how to make them appear as they should.  Do not ask me how many times I’ve accidentally posted content for Heart of the Matter on my Victoria Ponders account.  Or vice versa.  If you’re ever following closely and notice something appear…and then poof away a moment later, it’s me!  Whoops!  I done did it again!

I’m also a little awkward about how to save and capture images.  I’m not kidding.  I didn’t realize until a few weeks ago that an app…on my phone…holds the images I post.  Now that I know…I can take a screen shot of them and marvel at my childlike collage.  Refrigerator worthy?

I’ve learned I yearn…for a little art in my life and when I stretch beyond my boundaries (self-imposed as they are) I feel good.  And the elevator a-ha of trading nice words with strangers?  A reminder that small kindnesses and “holding each other up” is the point of life.   

And a little lagniappe?  You should take a peek at my Victoria Ponders post for another slice of learning and loving.  Sister style. 

Big smiles,

Vicki 🥰

29 thoughts on “Love, Curiosity & Learning”

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  2. I love hearing about the clearly out to learning new things. And I’m happy to know that I am not the only one who struggles with the Gram right down to what to call it. We (the universal “we” not just though and I), we will never always be the smartest guy in the room and every day still is a learning opportunity. (I might struggle reposting on IG but I sure can repeat a great cliche when I hear one.)

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  3. What a wonderful theme for September! As an avid lifelong learner, I look forward to digging in. I’m pretty good with technology but every once in a while, I get stumped. As for images, Canva has been a huge time saver for my blog and I’ve used it for other non-blogging projects as well.

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  4. I love your amazing creativity, dear Vicki! You are such a lifelong learner that is an inspiration far and wide – whether it be on IG (no idea if that still cool and that’s one that I don’t care to learn 🙂 ), on WP or everywhere else you go!! You embody the Henri Matisse quote, “Creative people are curious, flexible, persistent, and independent with a tremendous spirit of adventure and a love of play.” Yes!!

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    1. Whoa…I love Matisse even more. Another fabulous quote. I don’t know how you do it! Thanks for being you…and for sharing a quote that encourages the joy and ‘love of play’ in the learning process. Laughing and learning? Gosh…it’s a good combo por moi! 🥰🤣🥰

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  5. A wonderful way to kick off and celebrate back to school season. Life truly is about learning and it doesn’t stop at the end of school. It is life long. Look forward to reading the posts this month.

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  6. What a great topic for September. I am impressed with your “Insta” posts. I remember one swim mom said to me when our daughters were in high school, “You don’t use Insta?!” I was like “What?” I had no clue what she was talking about.

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  7. I’m with you on feeling like a “novice” when it comes to social media. I have Instagram but never use it. I probably should, but I feel like I need all the time I get just to publish one blog post per week. Maybe I’d have more time if I stopped scrolling FB so much though. Like you, I get enjoyment from those funny reels and little nuggets of life wisdom I come across and sometimes I just get sucked in for much too long. Great post, Vicki!

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    1. Thank you so much, Rhonda! Good to know I’m not alone with the scrolling fun. Little nuggets and pockets of wisdom are delightful, I say. Glad you feel the same…and geez. You’re right on about the time it takes to do any sort of social media stuff. I suspect that’s why I sometimes make silly mistakes. My ‘need for speed’ runs counter to my skills! xo to you! 🥰

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  8. Oh Vicki, it does my heart so much good to know that I’m not alone in the low-techie world, or that I don’t know if it’s IG, Insta, whatever-gram. It’s so hard to keep up but kudos to us, I say, for giving it the old college try. I also confess that I had to look up lagniappe yet again—I forgot what I learned the first time I looked it up! Thanks for keeping me on my toes. God love ya!

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  9. I so appreciate how you’ve woven curiosity through this post in such a fun, showing-more-than-telling way. To explore, contemplate, and get to witness curiosity?! Such joyful moments, so that I’m really looking forward to allll of September here on HotM! *confetti*

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  10. I tinker and create images and then futz with how to make them appear…

    I so relate to this. That, too, is my process. I’ve been rather impressed that you manage to create interest in IG for your posts in WP by making specific images for each post. That’s a lot of work, but kind of fun?

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    1. I love, love, love that you get my “tinker and futz” thoughts! Yes — it’s fun. Smart people would take a course or learn from someone more seasoned but I literally “click around” as I’m noodling to see what I can do and sometimes it invites disaster, but occasionally I learn something new by accident and keep plugging along. 😜

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  11. Sorry, late to the convo! I was on an internet break yesterday 🙂 I so love the challenge of trying to figure things out for myself. That habit was impressed upon me from my dad and I’m thankful even now. What better way to learn, and if some task really isn’t mission critical or needed to be judged on a perfection level such as brain surgery, then why not tinker and create and learn and have fun!

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