Live and Learn

I have a friend who plays the saxophone.  I really love that instrument.  For me it would bring tears to a glass eye.  That, and the harmonica.  Another guy I know plays it but I have never heard him.  He is into it big time.
I was reminded of that this morning as a song was playing that includes saxophone.  It is called Home Fires and was the song I really felt was my theme song when mum passed away more than 25 years ago now.
It contains words I heard this morning I did not realize were there.  I reckon they are great advice.  “Keep on living what you’re learning.”  Anyone who has read what I have written, knows that sort of thing is big for me.
I really believe that I do not know something until I have proven it in practice.  It is possible to have all the theory right, but until something is done it remains theory only.  Theory has its place and I love discussing things backwards and forwards.  There are things I do not agree with, but to me it is important I know why.  “Just because” does not cut it with me.
It seems some have the theory and practice right in that they have proved something for themselves, but that does not mean they are good at imparting it.  The best example of that for me were IT people.  When I could not get something IT related working, I would have IT people look into it.
Where possible, what I wanted was to learn how to fix the problem so I would not bother the IT section again with it.  So often an IT person would do this this this and this and fix it.  I would watch and be none the wiser.  What mattered to them was fixing the problem, while what mattered to me was knowing how to fix the problem.  Invariably I would remain dependant on them.  For me it was a classroom.  For them class was over, and they applied what they had learnt there.
The saying “live and learn” is like a best-case scenario to me.  It is all to possible to live but not learn.  But anyone who is open to learn, it is not a lost cause.  Some like me have thick skulls.
I had an email address that was the better one to use in a particular situation.  It took four times getting it wrong before I got it right.  Each time I used the wrong email I was politely told I should be using the right one.  Eventually I did, but old habits die hard.
To me learning the right way can be hard if I have done it the wrong way for a long time.  Unlearning is the pits and can be humiliating.  But to me it is worth it.  It is a waste of time attending a class if I think I know everything and cannot be taught.  Maybe I do know everything being taught, but there is always an emphasis or nuances worth exploring.
They say “old habits die hard.”  But the thing for me is they do die.  Water can drip from a tap.  Initially there is no impression in the concrete below.  But some time later there is.  It was the persistence that made the impression.
I find the same for me.  Sometimes what needs to be unlearned is overwhelmed by persistence.  It is the only way I can live and learn.