The Messy, Wonderful Reality of Adult Learning

Why I Hate the Word ‘Lifelong’ Learning

Look, I get it. We’re supposed to love the idea of lifelong learning. It’s all sunshine and rainbows, right? But honestly, it makes me wanna scream. It’s not that I’m against learning—far from it. I’ve been an editor for over 20 years, and I’ve seen alot of changes. But the way we talk about adult learning? It’s completley unrealistic.

Last Tuesday, I was at a conference in Austin, and some guru was talking about how we should all be committed to lifelong learning. I mean, come on. Who has time for that? We’re all just trying to keep our heads above water. But that’s not the point I wanna make here. It’s more about how we approach learning as adults.

I remember when I was 28, working at a small magazine in Chicago. My boss, let’s call him Marcus, was this intense guy who thought he knew everything. One day, he told me, “You need to keep learning, or you’ll be left behind.” I asked him what he meant. He said, “Read more, take courses, stay curious.” Which… yeah. Fair enough. But it’s not that simple, is it?

Learning Isn’t a Marathon, It’s a Messy Marathon

Here’s the thing: learning as an adult isn’t some neat, linear process. It’s messy. It’s full of starts and stops, successes and failures. And that’s okay. I think we need to stop pretending it’s this perfect journey.

About three months ago, I was having coffee with a friend named Sarah. She’s a teacher, and she was telling me about how hard it is to get adults to commit to learning. “They think they don’t have time,” she said. “Or they’re scared they’ll fail.” I told her I felt the same way. It’s not that we don’t wanna learn—it’s that we’re scared of looking stupid.

And that’s the real issue, isn’t it? We’re too worried about being wrong, about not knowing something. But here’s the secret: nobody knows everything. And that’s okay. It’s physicaly impossible to know everything. So why do we beat ourselves up over it?

The Problem with Online Courses

Now, let’s talk about online courses. I’m not gonna lie—I love the idea of them. The convenience, the variety, the fact that I can learn about pretty much anything from my couch. But here’s the thing: they’re not a magic solution.

I took this course last year on data analysis. It was gonna be 36 hours of pure, unadulterated learning. I was so excited. And then… I dropped out after three hours. Why? Because life got in the way. Because I got busy. Because I felt overwhelmed. And that’s the reality of adult learning, folks. It’s not about finding the perfect course or the perfect time to learn. It’s about making it work for you.

I remember talking to a colleague named Dave about this. He said, “You know, I tried one of those online courses. It was gonna teach me how to code. But I just couldn’t keep up. It was too fast, too intense.” I told him I felt the same way. And that’s the thing—we need to stop pretending that online courses are the be-all and end-all of adult learning. They’re a tool, sure. But they’re not the only tool.

Learning from Real People

So what’s the alternative? Well, I think it’s about learning from real people. Not from some video or some textbook, but from actual, living, breathing humans. And that’s why I love workshops and conferences and, honestly, just talking to people.

I was at a workshop in Vermont last month, and the speaker was talking about the importance of community in learning. “You need people to bounce ideas off of,” he said. “You need people to challenge you, to support you, to keep you going.” And he was right. Learning isn’t something you do alone. It’s something you do with other people.

And look, I’m not saying you should quit your job and go back to school. That’s not practical for most of us. But what I am saying is that you should find ways to learn from the people around you. Join a book club. Attend a workshop. Have coffee with someone who’s an expert in something you’re interested in. Just… learn from real people.

And Now, a Tangent About Food

Speaking of real people, have you heard about the new restaurant opening in Burlington? It’s gonna be this amazing place with a focus on local, sustainable food. I’m not sure what this has to do with learning, but I’m excited about it. And honestly, that’s the point. Learning isn’t just about formal education or structured courses. It’s about being curious, about exploring, about trying new things. Even if those things are food-related. (Check out the Vermont restaurant opening news if you’re interested.)

The Bottom Line

So here’s the bottom line: learning as an adult is messy. It’s not perfect. It’s not linear. It’s not always convenient. But it’s worth it. And it’s something we should all be doing, in whatever way works for us. Whether it’s online courses or workshops or just talking to people, we should be learning. Because the alternative—stagnation—is so much worse.

And that’s all I have to say about that. Well, not really. But I’m gonna stop here because I think I’ve made my point. Or at least I hope I have. Anyway, thanks for reading.

About the Author: Hi, I’m Alex. I’ve been an editor for over 20 years, and I’ve seen alot of changes in the world of education. I’m passionate about adult learning, and I’m always looking for new ways to learn and grow. I’m also a bit of a perfectionist, which is why I hate the word “lifelong” learning. But that’s a story for another time.

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