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What remains constant at a time of constant change?

It is nothing new to talk about constant change. In ancient Greece, the philosopher Heraclitus said change was the very essence of reality. At the same time, as he suggested, if there is change is because something remains the same.

Leaving aside all philosophical debates and brining the question of change and permanence to our own everyday lives, we can ask ourselves what remains constant at a time of so many changes in politics, society, economy, technology, and science.

Before I offer a suggestion of an answer, allow me to share a personal example. I began my career as a professional journalist and writer in January 1988, 21 years ago. Since then, I have had the privilege and opportunity of writing and working for many media outlets, be it print, radio, television, or Internet, both in English and in Spanish.

During the past two decades, I attended many conventions, meetings, and seminars about journalism. I also belong to three associations of professional journalists and I read as many books and magazines about journalism as I can.

However, last week I attended in Denver a seminar organized by the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ, www.icfj.org) and there I discovered how many more things I still need and have to learn about my own profession.

I was forced to rethink about my own training and education and, in doing so, the ICFJ seminar reaffirmed something I already knew but almost forgot: at a time of ceaseless changes, the only permanent thing is the need for continuous education.

If we don’t educate ourselves, it won’t matter how much time we spend talking about an issue or whom we ask for advice, because all of our decisions will probably be wrong. Ignorance is never a good foundation for good decisions.

Going back to my own experience, I thought I knew enough and I was up to date with my own profession. However, I painfully discovered last week how many things I still don’t know.

I think in this time of hectic changes, constant and serious self-education is one of the best antidotes against bad decisions, often causing unwanted consequences.

I recently met several people who lost everything after opening a business without any knowledge or guidance or after investing money just because they heard a so-called “expert” speaking at a radio or television program.

In all those cases, it will take years for those people to recover from their losses and they will probably never recover the lost opportunities. Those people could have avoided many of the problems they now face with proper information and education, already available to them. But they never dedicated the time or the efforts to get that education.

If we allow a day to go by without learning something new, we will fall farther behind from those who did learn something new that day. Eventually, our families and our future will pay the consequences.

When everything changes, we should understand that’s the moment to spend more time educating ourselves.

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