Skills for a Changing World
Ever since discovering The Handbook of Sustainability Literacy, I’ve been mulling over the idea of how this fascinating book can guide me in choosing further training opportunities to equip me for the next few years. I want my learning to be enjoyable and fulfilling. I also would like to feel that I’m equipping myself to continue to earn a living from what I most enjoy doing – working in partnership with others on their personal and spiritual development. Another aim is to complete the conversion of our house and garden to a comfortable low carbon, low-waste home that is reasonably resilient to the external effects of climate change and resource depletion.
During my musings, I had a flashback to choosing my “O” level options. “O” levels, for those who are not quite as old as me, or who are not familiar with the British education system, were exams taken usually at age 16 in a broad range of subjects. The modern equivalent are known as GCSEs. The idea is to prove one’s competence and to qualify for further and higher education or for entry into the job market. At age 14, the “0” level options I chose were a few science subjects, maths, English, a couple of languages and music. If I’m honest, I didn’t so much “choose” these subjects as delete from my “options list” those subjects I thought I couldn’t possibly tolerate for another 2 years!
Nowadays, with the benefit of several decades more life experience under my belt and a completely free choice in what I learn, I can take a much more flexible and empowered approach. As a quick, fun exercise, I decided to choose some subject options now from an imaginary list of my own “Skills for a Changing World.” My choices didn’t include some skills and knowledge areas that I’d consider essential because I reckon I’m already competent enough to pass the exam ;o) These would be skills such as basic literacy and numeracy, growing and preparing food, making clothes and child rearing, ethical business practice, coaching, some basic communication and relationships skills.
Rather than that, what follows represent subjects where I have a little knowledge, enough to know I’d enjoy further study and practice, but where I’d like to know a lot more:
1. Permaculture design and implementation
2. Ayurveda
3. Vipassana Meditation
4. Non-Violent Communication (NVC)
5. Naturopathy
6. Mediation
I don’t think that there are GCSEs available in any of these (yet!), although I have found other courses for all of them, for adults only. Now, all I have to decide is when to do what and how to live long enough to make good use of them all!
If you were 14 again and had a completely free reign in what to study, what would you choose that would help equip you for life in a sustainable society?
What is most important to you when you consider the training options open to you now and what you’d most enjoy doing? Why?
October 30, 2009
Posted in: Ethical Shopping
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