Until I stumbled across Mental Multivitamin’s blog (“Read. Think. Learn.” Oh, how I love that tagline), I never really used the word “autodidact.” Given how many books I’ve read over the years, I must have seen the word several times. It felt familiar. I’d sounded it out at some point in my literary life. But I’d never used the word or even thought about what it means. I’d never bothered to look it up, and no one had ever explained it to me.
It was up to me to find out.
Which, I learned, is exactly what an autodidact would do.
Gee, I feel smarter already, which is the intent of that blog.
When one is feeling kind of midlife-y, the thought of returning to school to pursue a post-graduate degree of some sort is thrilling and daunting at the same time…and eventually, one concludes, impossible. When that same person has four children ranging from preschool to puberty, the thought of a master’s degree generally evaporates and she goes into the kitchen to finish mopping the floor, muttering all the while.
Not that this has happened to me or anything.
But people like that have to resort to other ways of learning, to satisfy their intellectual cravings. They become autodidacts.
Most of my life I’ve been an autodidact and didn’t know it. Perhaps I’m not much of one, given that I didn’t even now what the word meant until now.
But I’ve always been hungry for ideas and committed to lifelong learning. I read. I think. I try to learn something new every day. I research and explore topics of interest. I discuss issues with my friends, some of whom have zero interest in what I bring up, but feign interest because they know I’m home with a five-year-old all day long reading Dr. Seuss and playing variations on chess, most of which involve illegal zig-zaggy moves. My friends are kind. They know I need a little intellectual stimulation and quietly listen and nod, smiling now and then. I did this with my dad growing up. It’s an effective technique. Just insert “mm-hmm” and “really?” and “oh, wow” now and then, raising your eyebrows slightly on the “oh, wow.” It works. It really does. Just ask my friends. (But, uh, don’t mention it to my dad.)
So anyway, many thanks to Mental Multivitamin for providing the perfect alliteration as I explore who I am and journey toward self-discovery.
Autodidact Ann. Now that I know what it means, I think it fits.
OK, you got me.
You use this word I’ve never heard before and tell me it fits you to a “T.” Since I’m enjoying getting to know you, of course I want to find out what this word – that suits you so well – means.
Being the brilliant person I am, I find my dictionary to look it up. Webster says autodidiact means a self-taught person, and I think, “How clever you are, Ann, getting me to teach myself what this word means!”
Then I return to my computer and see you used that Snap thing to provide the definition right in your post. Oh. Uh, I’m a little slow.
Just call me Kinda-autodidact Karen!
Does the definition include a photo of your father reaching behind him (without looking) for the dictionary?
Are we among the (has to be few) people who actually wear out dictionaries?
And yet, I feel that quite a few other people had a bit to do with teaching us, too…….
For myself, John Stempel comes to mind.
Many thanks for the link/nod, Ann. I wish you good company, great books, and excellent conversation in your autodidactic pursuits.
What a fun new word for me! I must admit I don’t remember ever coming across it before, even though I am constantly reading and I do possess a college degree 🙂 .
I love your new alliteration – it has a nice ring to it.
Happy Autodidacting!! (Now is that a real word?)
Karen: I love that story (I like your alliteration, too, Kinda Karen)! I’m still getting used to that Snap tool, too. In my opinion, you get a bunch of bonus points for dragging down the dictionary and looking it up.
Lynn(Mom): Someday I’d like to get a little video of Dad stretching back like that to pull that dictionary (they don’t make dictionaries like that anymore, you know) with the duct tape on the spine off the shelf. You both modeled lifelong learning. Dad loves using the dictionary to learn something new. You never seem to need it, you Crossword-Genius, you!
MFS: I’m honored you stopped by for a visit–thanks for the daily brain-boost.
An Ordinary Mom: I’ll bet we all start seeing that word pop up all over the place–in newspapers, books, on the ‘Net. BTW, tomorrow’s post is the copycat from yours. I realized while making the list, however, that it’s not exhaustive. I know I’m going to think of a dozen more to add…but I guess that’s what makes us lifelong learners!
An Ordinary Mom: (A follow up) I ended up delaying that post one more day. I’m sure that the coat-flinging post that appeared was a little confusing….