As a firm believer that we should re-invent ourselves at regular intervals, I’ve recently embarked on a career change - running a ‘Confidence and Self-esteem’ course for Adult Learners. Today I had ‘tutor observation,’ and the feedback report says that I know my stuff but spent too much of the hour talking. Gutted!

My husband will probably joke that they got off lightly with an hour – after all he’s lived with that problem for 35 years - but clearly I’ll need to learn from this when I’ve stopped sulking into my coffee.

Ironically one of the things we look at in the course are the ups and downs of life - and how you grow more in the low times than in the highs, because that is when you learn more. It’s in the low times that we discover our own strengths and resources; when we recognise that we’re fallible human beings who don’t know it all; and when we find out who our real friends are – the ones who stand by you when you don’t feel like being the life and soul of the party. Like tonight...

Without prior knowledge of today’s happenings, one of my friends sent me an email which I found when I got home. It is the story of a butterfly breaking out of the cocoon and how it is actually the struggle to break out that creates the strength in its wings, allowing it to fly. What a very timely and appropriate message.

Coincidentally that same friend was my Radio Tutor on my Media course at University and later the Producer of the Sunday Breakfast programme I worked on at BBC local radio - so he knows all about teaching styles and mentoring. I haven’t heard from him for ages, so perhaps his sending of the message was a God-incidence rather than a coincidence. Anyway - he gets a ‘Friend of the Week’ badge and his picture on my wall. Who is your Friend of the Week this week?

Hopefully it is your partner who is consistently the absolute top of your Friends List, because they have promised to stick with you for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health; and when you are grumbling into your boots because you’re not Superman or Wonder Woman in every facet of your life. So I’m hoping that when my other half gets home tonight he’ll come up with a plan to improve the day – like dinner at our favourite Italian bistro for example. Or a take-away from our local chippy to be more realistic as it’s mid-week!

Fortunately the success of the Life Long Learning scheme proves that you are never too old to learn new things, improve career prospects and even enhance your marriage. If I can talk less and encourage more hands-on interaction in my Courses, then there is every chance that I’ll get the hang of it at home, which can only be a good thing. Save sermons for Sundays and ‘button it’ a bit on other days. Let other people do the talking and even have the last word.

Growing pains and ‘ups and downs’ are healthy. They are a sign that you are alive. There’ll be time enough for flat-lining and resting in peace when someone else is writing my Obituary and taking over this blog.

And the Assessor did say my handouts were top notch. So it wasn't all bad. He was just giving me room for improvement so that I can fulfil my potential. Perhaps stepping into the Wonder Woman phone box beforehand might have helped. That outfit she wore did wonders for her confidence and self esteem. There aren't many women who can hang upside down in a tiny corset like that and defy gravity!

I have now swapped my coffee for a celebratory glass of wine.
Here's to friends and learning curves that help you grow towards being the best you can be.
Cheers!
J x