36 THE LEARNING CURVE

It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.

—John Wooden, Wooden on Leadership

IF YOU THINK BACK TO your school days (whether elementary, high school, or college), you know the benefits of learning in a group setting. Perhaps you had a favorite study group or study partner to help you grasp certain concepts and ideas. When it came time for that algebra test, you were on your own. But you didn’t get to that point on your own.

After graduation, many people assume that the time of learning—at least in a formal setting—has ended. But that need not be the case. Just as there is always something more to learn about your spouse, there’s always something more to learn about the world outside your door. If God has gifted you with a natural affinity for science, mathematics, or the arts, it would be a shame for you to put those gifts on the shelf simply because you’re no longer a full-time student.

Because learning is a communal process, is there a specific subject you and your spouse are both interested in that you could study together? Learning a new skill or expanding your knowledge of a specific subject is another great way for you to build intimacy!

ACTIVITY: Take a class, attend a seminar, read an educational book, or visit a museum together. Find a subject that interests you both and expand your knowledge as a couple. Here are some possibilities:

• Take a pottery or woodworking class together.
• Attend a community lecture series.
• In the days leading up to your date, read a book on a subject that interests you and then discuss it on your date night.
• Visit a museum and explore an area of science or history that interests you.
• Watch a documentary and then discuss it afterward.
• Go stargazing together. Download an astronomy app for your phone that will help you identify constellations and other celestial bodies.

QUESTIONS: After your activity, discuss your experience together, asking the following Questions: What did you learn during the course of our date? How can we continue to work together to expand our knowledge of our chosen subject? Are there other subjects we can explore together as a couple? How can we make learning fun?