Why?

To the editor:
    With our first breath, our learning begins. As babies, everything that we do and experience is new. Not only is this our first year of life, it is the year of firsts — our first smile, our first step, our first word, etc. Our education has begun.
    As children we become the most curious creatures on earth. Our favorite word is “Why?” We are intrigued with everything. We want to know everything. Our mind is wide open and should not be shut.
    As teenagers, we think we know it all! Because of our 13-plus years of experience, we think that we have acquired all the wisdom that we need. Our hope lies with our teachers, because they have the task to re-open our minds. They must teach what we thought we knew. We are privileged to be taught by teachers, not that teachers are privileged to teach us. Many parts of the world cannot afford a teacher. Hopefully, school will re-ignite our curiosity.
    As young adults, college becomes our teaching grounds. Now, we must pay for our knowledge. Curiosity has a price. We not only learn our “major”, we learn about life. We learn to interact with others, manage our time, and handle independence and responsibility. We are full of ideas and often of ideals. We are now ready for the world?!
    As adults, we join the workforce, and we learn and perfect our trade. Sometimes it parallels our college major, and often it does not. We become comfortable with our jobs, a comfort that often stymies our curiosity. We must not get too comfortable. We must continue to learn. We must continue to challenge our minds. Continuous learning keeps the mind young.
    When we retire, we should not retire our minds. Learning exercises the mind. Without learning, our mind stops growing, and often deteriorates. Forgetfulness and even dementia may be the consequence of this brain “freeze.”
    The next time your children ask you why?, don’t get annoyed or frustrated, just smile. Remember this is part of their learning. Education begins at birth and should only end at death. We must continue to exercise our brains.
    If we don’t know the answer, “Why not ask why?”
Hassan Abouleish,M.D.
Houlton