Book 137 - A Year of Magical Learning

Reflection Title: Shut Up and Watch

Book – On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin

Book Description: On the Origin of Species (or, more completely, On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life), published on 24 November 1859, is a work of scientific literature by Charles Darwin that is considered to be the foundation of evolutionary biology. Darwin's book introduced the scientific theory that populations evolve over the course of generations through a process of natural selection. The book presented a body of evidence that the diversity of life arose by common descent through a branching pattern of evolution. Darwin included evidence that he had collected on the Beagle expedition in the 1830s and his subsequent findings from research, correspondence, and experimentation.

Reflection:

We all know the story of evolution, Charles Darwin, and what his book On the Origin of Species is all about. You won’t learn anything new here in this regard.

What I personally love most about the behind the scenes story of On The Origin of Species is how long it took Darwin to formulate and publish his findings.

His magical trip around the world on the RMS Beagle began in 1831, he wouldn’t publish his observations and theories until 1859. ALMOST 30 YEARS LATER!

Darwin was the master of patiently sitting, watching, observing, and questioning the world around him. He spent 30 years in this process before he decided it was time to speak. When he spoke, his thoughts changed the world. That’s the power of shutting your mouth and letting others and the world reveal their secrets.

I, on the other hand, talk way to damn much!

I’ve spent my entire life talking way more than I should. I just can’t shut my damn mouth sometimes. It is compulsory for me and a problem in conversations as I tend to dominate them, which I know isn’t right. I don’t want to be that way, but so many thoughts fill my head and I feel compelled to get them out as quickly as they come. It is something that I love and regret about myself at the same time.

I would give anything to change it and I’ve really tried over the course of my life. Nothing seemed to work…that is until I found books. Books changed everything for me.

For the first time in my life, I was forced to listen to someone else’s entire story for hours and hours at a time without saying a word. All the thoughts that fill my head while listening must either go down in my notepad or I’d have to let them go and keep listening. In real life, if it was a face-to-face conversation, I would have peppered the author with questions, thoughts, or my opinions about what they were telling me. Again…I suck at keeping my mouth shut.

Books forced me to sit, listen, question, watch, and observe as the author’s story unfolded. Books forced me to learn how to reserve judgment until the very end. Books gave me patience. Books gave me calm. Books gave me time to process my thoughts more fully.

The more I sat and quietly listened and pondered the author’s thoughts, the more the secrets of this world seemed to open up to me. Books allowed to me observe, absorb, and really learn for the first time in my life.

Books taught me to shut up, and I’m so grateful for this lesson even if it came at age 35. I may not be a master listener and observer of life yet like Darwin, but give me 30 more years of this and let’s see what I can come up with!

Stay tuned!

Question: What might you learn if you shut your mouth and started listening to the world around you?

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Links:

What is The Year of Magical Learning? An Introduction

YOML Podcast Discussion - Coming Soon

YOML Bookstore - On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin