Driving, Learning, and Brimming with Knowledge

Yes, I am still driving 90 miles each way to and from work.

Yes, I know this is not environmentally friendly. I try to mitigate the gas usage by driving with a light foot. My Mazda 3, which the government rates at 29 highway miles per gallon, has been averaging 35.5. From a personal economics point of view I have crunched the numbers backwards and forwards. Unless, I can find a friend to give me a place to live for free, near work, the commute is, temporarily, the least expensive option.

So, friends will continue to ask, "are you still driving all that way to work everyday?"

The work continues to be stimulating, motivating, and rewarding. The commute continues to be enriching, educational, and thought provoking. The commute, after all, gives me a legitimate excuse to spend 3.5 hours a day listening to podcasts and books. No one I know is so lucky.

The Gallup Organization identifies "Learner" as a being a core strength. "People in the Learner theme have a great desire to learn and want to continuously improve. In particular, the process of learning, rather than the outcome, excites them." While the long drives have certainly been strengthening my "Leaner" muscles, the latter part of the definition leaves me feeling a bit of a void. The idea of doing nothing with the learning feels wasteful.

So, if learning by itself is not very satisfying, I need to do something with my new-found knowledge. Gallup describes additional Developer and Maximizer skills that have the potential to put the knowledge to use. Developers recognize and cultivate the potential in others. Maximizers stimulate personal and group excellence. So. . .

Pity my poor wife as the one upon whom much of the ingested knowledge is regurgitated. My son and daughter in-law are good listeners and often catch earfuls. A captive Deacons quorum is also susceptible. Those who are friends on Goodreads and choose to look over a book because I rate it highly have a bit more freedom of choice in the matter. They have only themselves to blame. Recently, I have been suggesting to Ellen we invite more people over to dinner. I this so I will have more vessels to fill?

Yes, I am still making the long drive to and from work. Approach me at your own risk. I am close to exploding with knowledge.