Musing in the Mind....Part 1 - How We Think

HOW I THINK

I am a thinker!   I also just love thinking about the act of thinking.  How our minds work - how these neural webs inside our brains allow information to flow over us.  How people's minds process information so very differently and why.

For those of you who know me well, in many ways, I'm a logician - analyzing a problem, considering its parts, and trying to make the most logical, efficient, decision.  It's easy with simple systems - but when there are inherent complexities - It becomes more difficult.  What is noise in the system? - but sometimes that "noise" is a tell tale - sometimes not.  What is the real, balanced, desired outcome of the inherent problem and why? - all considerations.

I am an extremely visual thinker.   I process in three dimensions at all times.  I can look at something once - and intuitively understand how it works mechanically.  I'm positive that is why I instantly fell in love with chemistry.   At St. Vincent-St. Mary's High School, in Akron, Ohio (Yes - same school as LeBron James - the King of Basketball) , my chemistry teacher was Mrs. Staudt.  She was one of the applicant/finalists for teacher in space - and thank goodness she didn't win - because she would have been on  that terrible Challenger Space Shuttle explosion in 1986)  Anyway- from the first class - it was like intuitively knowing a foreign language - and I didn't even have to study.  SO WEIRD!  Geometry was also pretty intuitive.

Obviously - I pursued the chemistry field.   (I'll need to muse more on my views of chemistry/science and the universe at a later date - it gets kind of spiritual and mysterious and weird, and wonderful - but that's my intersection for what most people here, just call "God" - a completely human-centric and inadequate label/word in my opinion - but that's for another day)

TEACHING - A PROFOUNDLY EYE-OPENING EXPERIENCE

I eventually was at the Ohio State University in a PhD program there.  (Lots of things happened - like Paul and marriage and moving to Maryland and, and, and  - so never completed - and I've never regretted it) - But that's where I was introduced to teaching.  I had to teach lab sections and problem solving sessions in smaller groups of undergrads (20-25) - which paid for my tuition and a living stipend.  It was a pivotal moment for me.

Through teaching, and really getting to know students - you recognize just how differently people process information.

Some were like me and could visualize in three dimensions how it all worked, but for others, it was such a struggle.  And I wanted everyone to be successful - so I had to adapt.

Many were kinesthetic learners  - they need to see it and touch it - chemical models worked best for them.

Others were auditory processors.    They could hear it and understand.  I had to learn to say describe things  - often in different ways to get my point across to them.   This is personally my weakest area - I try hard - but I've always had to stretch myself and I find language hugely inadequate and imperfect to describe what I'm thinking.

Others read through for understanding, taking time to process as they read.    

And then there are the introverts and the extroverted types - in terms of information processing.  Some had to talk it out loud for it to stick.   Others, like myself, take it all in and need to let things "roll around and marinate" - which I do like ALL the time. - and I mean ALL THE TIME!

And more - and more - and more ways.   This was so eye opening to me in terms of understanding people - way, way beyond just teaching chemistry!

TEACHING KNITTING

I love knitting - but of course you all know that - and I'll post more on that someday too - because this is in many ways  will be my memoir.

But - people used to seek me out - to solve problems or for a quick how to - or a class.  Pattern writing is the same.  You can't just throw a chart at someone who likes to "read" a pattern.  They just won't process it.

In each interaction - it's about meeting people where they're at.  Who are they?  How do they think?  How do they approach it?  Where are they coming from - and as a teacher - having the patience to give them that processing time.  It's been so fun to get to know people in this way.  An through this I have met the most inspiring, amazing and creative people.

JUST PEOPLE

We are all so different!  Our western culture tries to categorize us into "boxes"  - to make us fit in - so that it's easy processing for everyone - and we can put folks into a box, categorize and literally check them off as "like/unlike", "safe/unsafe" etc. etc. etc... go ahead and add your checkbox.   To judge- if you will.

Who are we to judge?

Why shouldn't we celebrate this wild and wonderful diversity of our humanity?  It makes the whole human experience richer.  The creativity of the human experience.   I've grown so much richer as a person through getting to know folks that approach things differently than myself - without judging them or putting them in a box.  Making things.  Where creativity comes from.  I'll be exploring more.

This is just a starting point for now.    My musings …..   I hope I can keep it up while I've still got it.

Until next time,

Love ya,  and love someone else too!

-L