The Learn Page February 2022

Learning to keep moving...

Welcome back to The Learn Page and to Oportus' second monthly update, where I'll be sharing something I've learned with you. January has come and gone; birds, buds and rabbits are starting to make tentative appearances here on the Wild Atlantic Way on the west coast of Ireland. It feels a bit similar to society as we begin to emerge cautiously from the long COVID pandemic and restrictions. Oportus is now "out there"; thank you so much for all the feedback and messages of encouragement we've received as we step out in this new year and new venture. It's exciting and feels a bit like stepping into the unknown.

The beauty of this part of Ireland is often described as rugged, wild or savage. It's not pristine or pretty as other places, with few straight lines and constantly changing light. It's been said that you can experience four seasons in one day here, especially at this time of year, so you should be dressed for sunshine, hail and everything in between! It is, however, no less beautiful for that and I personally wouldn't want to be anywhere else on the planet. If you wait indoors for the weather forecast to promise perfect conditions, you'll never get out and will miss some of the most stunning and interesting scenery you will ever encounter.

So it is with Oportus. We're on the journey now and are going to keep moving forward. We can't control or even foresee everything ahead but we're keeping going anyway.

What am I learning? That beginnings aren't always neat, tidy and predictable. That once I step out, I need to keep the momentum up, otherwise things will come to a standstill before they have had a chance to really get going. Even if the road ahead seems a bit hard to make out, I should still keep going.

What about you? Did you start anything at the beginning of 2022 (or indeed any other time) that needs a nudge to keep moving? If you did and would like to share the journey, give us a shout, and to find out more about an exciting Learn Thing event later this month, see below!

Until next time, let's keep learning...

Not everybody learns the same way, and it’s OK. The Learn Thing Training is a three-hour interactive session for groups and individuals helping others, incorporating practice exercises to reinforce learning. The training looks at learning and opportunity – NOT only in the “boxes” of academics and career, but also person development and how to find the value in all kinds of situations. The session will be delivered via Zoom. A PDF copy of the worksheets is included. The Learn Thing event is from 6-9pm on Thursday the 24th of February; cost £22.50/€27.00 - to book, just click the link below:

https://www.eventbrite.com/o/oportus-40729684913