L is for Learn

The thing about Grannies is that even though we’ve been learning all along the way, the vast amount of knowledge in the world is well beyond the capacity of even a Grannie to encompass totally. There’s always plenty more to learn, and there are always plenty of reasons to keep learning.

Yes, we are wise and we have a wealth of experience, but life comes at you fast.

One thing that has always really annoyed me is the stereotype that old people don’t understand technology. OK, some of that is true to a point. I mean, you are asking us to jump from rotary dial phones and party lines to smartphones and the Cloud, from researching with the card catalog and microfiche to Google. It’s a little dizzying sometimes, but that doesn’t mean we can’t learn.

Computers, the interwebs, search engines, and browsers are all tools to be used, hopefully for good instead of evil.

So learn it. Take a class. Plenty of online classes exist for free. Udemy is an online learning system that provides virtual classes in nearly anything you can imagine for a small fee and investment of time. You can start from scratch as a beginner or take more advanced classes as your experience dictates.

Grab a child from the street and have it help you deal with your phone issues. Well, maybe not actually grab one, but you know what I mean.  Maybe you have a grandchild who can show you the ropes. The local senior center should be able to help as well. Contact the computer teacher at the local school and see if she or he has a minute to give you some pointers—or if she or he knows of a student who is filled with knowledge and needs an outlet.

Beyond the technical issues, make a point of learning about the nuances of modern government and law as they relate to the issues you want to support. Learn about local law as it relates to protests and marches. Learn your rights at home and abroad. Learn the geography of any place where you will be marching. Learn the talking points and be able to back them up with facts and proof.

One thing I learned just this week is that in Hawaii, demonstrators call themselves protectors instead of protesters. Words matter, and being a protector of democracy and a defender of the Constitution is something even the most hardened opponents may find challenging to deal with. Changing terminology may not seem like a big deal, but it can be an essential step. Remember how we stopped using the term slave and began talking about enslaved and enslavers—how we stopped referring to rape victims in favor of survivors of sexual assault? Not only does that terminology empower the wronged individual, but it also emphasizes the crime and the criminal.

Nobody expects you to know it all, but don’t let feelings of inadequacy paralyze you. Learn what you need to know to be the most effective advocate you can be.

What have you learned today?