(un)Learning

How easy is it to learn something? How effectively can one learn? Is it sufficient if one simply has the attitude to learn? (let it be remembered that, that BTW doesn't come easy at all and is probably one of the scarcest attitudes to be found). It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that I was a little scared when realization dawned upon me that even if one were to have an attitude to learn, the mind (here, I refer to a mind not less than 25 years old) tends to only absorb, process, interpret and make use of information that it finds familiar, understandable, and to be gelling with only those the mind already believes in. All that the mind finds to be new, disruptive and against already existing beliefs is thrown out of the window even before it is given a proper and deserving glance. So, where does the concept of learning come in? Especially if it is true that learning also involves a process of unlearning!

One would only find oneself adding to already existing knowledge and strengthening one's existing values, and beliefs even if they were only worth being discarded. It would take a mighty inspirational talk/situation/person to help a person unlearn/learn new things. A person that has lived more than 30 years would most probably reject and prevent fresh thoughts from even entering her mind. Sad and unfortunate though this sounds, one of the best possible ways for a person to unlearn would mostly be through biting experiences that leave unforgettable scars! To add to this is the NIH (not invented here) syndrome doing its work on the egos of people (not) wanting to learn from others.

Going off on a tangent, all this makes me wonder if childhood days are the most important part of one's life. And what happens then is more or less irreversible. Seems obvious and banal at times. But we try so hard to change things only after we've grown up! While, almost everything that matters for the rest of one's life gets determined and shaped when one is young and tender! Parents and teachers do own all the responsibility! (Parenting is tougher and more complex than one thinks. It isn't all about providing and supporting but also leading!)

How many people that you know have changed beyond recognition after they've crossed their 'early' years? And if they've changed, how long does it last? If they've changed for good, then what did it take?