Reading time: 2 – 4 minutes

This past week I had to take a long drive. I didn’t really want to. And the more I loathed the idea of being on the road for hours and hours, the more important it became to think differently.

So even though there was lots to do and driving was going to keep me from it, I figured this was a great opportunity to take a break and be alone with my thoughts on the open road.

My thoughts kept me interested for about thirty minutes (I know all the punchlines to my jokes). And because I had much further to go, it was time to dust off some audio books I brought along for the ride (John Grisham and some Dean Koontz, in case you´re interested).

Audio books-fiction and non-fiction-are a favorite of mine and take me back to the days of the Walkman. Remember them? They were the latest in miniature technology. I managed to go through several of them jogging-the heavy little things would slip from my side and crash to the ground.

The early iPod and its white earbuds made the Walkman a bit like a relic. Now we are more likely to use an MP3 device that fits on a key chain and has more memory than I do. But the basic principle is the same: If you want to learn a new language, listen to lectures recorded in Ivy League universities or just relax to the sound of whale song, there is a recording for you.

And think of a self help audio topic and I guarantee there will be a program for that too.

Using these, you can improve anywhere, anytime. Chopping vegetables, strolling along the sidewalk or waiting in line at the grocery store. While our bodies are occupied, our minds are free to be opened to new possibilities.

A friend of mine learned conversational Italian by alternating between a recorded language class and podcasts of Italian radio. The simple act of letting the chatter of Italian talkshow guests wash over her for a few hours a day helped her understand the flow of Italian and give her language lessons some context. Not bad for a few months work, especially because she managed to weed her entire garden and get the backlog of ironing out of the way at the same time, don’t you think?

So here’s a self help thought for today…

For anyone who is a fan of personal development – and I’m guessing you are because you’re reading my note – this way of learning makes a lot of sense. If you’re not using audio to keep up your own personal journey, maybe it’s time to think about picking up an MP3 player, a personal CD player or digging out the old Walkman from the back of the closet. At least for the jog down memory lane.

Oh… before I forget, if you already do this, I wonder what you listen to?

Ciao!

Taylor