Learning from Pencil

Would you agree that those who wish to learn can learn without someone teaching them? As  famous Socrates used to say, “I cannot teach anything to anyone. I can only make them think.” So, if we are capable of thinking, we can learn from anyone or anything. Can we learn something from pencil?

Yes. Though, pencil is just an ordinary object but if we observe closely it provides profound learning for life. It just depends on how you look at things. There are at least seven qualities which come to my mind. You are free to add or delete as per your thinking. If adopted, these qualities can certainly help us get more clarity and peace.

First: What really matters is inside you.

Exteriors have utility but most important matter is inside you. Pay attention to this inner dimension in you too. Is it your mind? What is that which is not changing with age, marital status and positions you hold in life? What is awake, when body is sleeping? Is it energy? Is it spirit? Is it subconscious? Is it nothing? I don’t want to answer this for you. Look within. As far as pencil is concerned, what really matters in a pencil is not its wooden exterior, but the graphite inside.

Second: It leaves an impression.

One day, we all will become memory in others life. The real question is what kind? Everything we say or do leaves an impression. Not just on us but also on our surroundings. The higher position you hold, the greater mark you create. So, one should be careful and grateful. So be conscious of what you say or do. 

Third: No one is perfect. Don’t be arrogant, use eraser.

In this journey of life one thing is sure that we all make mistakes. Don’t justify them; rather let the eraser do its job. These erasers are the help we get to rectify or compensate the damage we created. Always be humble enough to accept your mistakes gracefully and seek help. Are you willing to let an eraser help you? This means that correcting something we did is not necessarily a bad thing; it helps to keep us on the right path.

Fourth: Now and then we need sharpening.

One thing sure about success is that it will fail. Our today’s strength may become tomorrow’s bottleneck. Therefore, one must keep sharpening his/her knowledge, skills and attitude. Sometimes, circumstances thrust upon us some changes which seem to be painful but actually they help us to become stronger and sharper. At times, some critics or competitors also act like sharpeners. They are our unpaid consultants who help us to challenge our limitations. So we must learn to bear certain pains and sorrows, because they will make us a sharper person.

Fifth: Time is slipping away every second.  

Pencil gets shorter with usage, so is life. We must realise that we are paying through our life currency for all the experiences we are having. Be careful with what you do with your time as once it is gone it is gone. It does not matter whether you write poetry or just keep scribbling; pencil/time is getting consumed. So, are you creating something significant or just consuming is your choice.

Sixth: Be useful till the end.

Pencil writes till the very end and remains useful. So, we must also strive to remain useful and productive till the dying day. Do your best and keep learning.

Seventh: Don’t be arrogant. It is the hand that makes you write.

Always remember that we are just the instruments in the hands of God. I know some of us may not like this idea but even if it is an idea, it helps. All our achievements, if you look closely are not our individual achievements. There is always someone else who contributes in our success. So, don’t be naive to think that you have achieved anything without any support. Whether God or someone else but it is not because of you alone. For my atheist friends, coincidences or chances also contribute in our success. Think.

Be humble and remain a learner. Be grateful. So, a humble pencil can contribute so much in our learning if we pay attention and are willing to learn. Now, look around and share what else we can learn from other objects.