What I Have Learned This Past Month

Thanks to Thomas Zurbuchen for his presentation at my Leaders Connect event. If you missed the event, watch the presentation here. I learned that in the Milky Way there are billions of stars, each with planets. Our galaxy is one of approximately one of 2 trillion galaxies. While I know vastness of the universe is hard to comprehend, I know I am a mere spec.

I learned that a team working together can place a telescope 1,000,000 miles away from earth. Through the James Webb Space Telescope, we will be able to see Infrared Light emanating from the beginning of the universe.

At the infinitesimal level, I learned that while a cell is exceedingly small, two cells merged together have created my children and grandchildren. In two months a single cell only has to divide 41 times to create the two trillion cells to create a baby.

I learned once again that, “It is not events that disturb people, it is their judgments concerning them”.

I read Kurt Vonnegut‘s book “Mother Night” and learned from him, “Each person has something they can do easily and can’t imagine why everybody else has so much trouble doing it.”

I learned while all of us are 99.9% the same genetically, each one of us is one of a kind, a totally unique individual.

I am reading Seth Stephens-Davidowitz‘s “Don’t Trust Your Gut: Using Data to Get What You Really Want in Life” and I enjoyed his summary of what big data teaches us about being happy, “The secret is: Be with your love, on an 80-degree and sunny day, overlooking a beautiful body of water, while having sex.”
So simple yet so true.

On a more dire note, I learned that suicide is the biggest cause of death for men under 40. I believe this comes from learning, as men, that we should be tough and never reveal our emotions; in other words to ‘man up’ in all situations.

I learned that sleep deprivation is a major contribution to the teenager mental health crisis,  “this generation of teens is the most sleep-deprived generation in history”. Read more about the crisis here. This is also true for college students who are also experiencing record levels of sleep deprivation. A few years ago, I learned from one of my students, the star football player, Rashan Gary, that members of the Michigan football team often stayed up till 2 or 3 in the morning playing video games then they would have to be up at 6 AM for strength conditioning. When I encouraged Rashan to get more sleep, he reported his performance on and off the field improved.

I have learned in the past few months that taking care of children can be both totally enjoyable and totally exhausting at the same time. And that’s with two grandparents on duty. I have great admiration for parents.

I have learned that parents have to be ready to be parents. This has to be their choice because it is their responsibility. If parenting is not done well, it is unhealthy for the child and for society.

I have learned that after being sick, the restoration of health is glorious, same with pain the abstinence can be magnificent.

I have learned the joy of a group text with old friends. Over the past few weeks, two of my friends from high school and I have been texting each other with reflections upon our experience in high school in Ferndale, Michigan. We learned that we had very different experiences, but in the end, the lessons we learned in this diverse environment have enabled us to be successful in our lives. We have also learned that it is never too late to establish and reestablish friendships.

I have learned that the things you loved when you were young will never be able to make you young again.