You know that feeling when you learn a new word and then you hear it everywhere? And the reality is it was there all along, you are just finally noticing it. Everywhere.
Well, I’ve made a concerted effort in the last week or so to be more intentional about studying Spanish. I’ve used Genius, a free flash card program for the computer that I love because it makes you type out the answer so your brain can’t go to sleep while your mind just watches the cards flip by on the screen. Even in the short amount of time I’ve been making this effort, I’ve recognized so many words! I listen to someone speak and something perks up, wide-eyed inside of me when I hear a word that I’ve studied on my flash cards. It’s exciting!
One morning while studying my flash cards, a song came into my head. I’m not sure why. It was a song my mom used to sing to us when we were little and the chorus goes something like this:
Que será, será.
Whatever will be, will be.
The future’s not ours to see.
Que será, será.
What will be, will be.
While those words are a marvelous lesson in and of itself, I was struck like a bolt of Understanding Lightening when I realized that que = what in Spanish and será is the future tense version of ser which = to be. What will be, will be. It’s so obvious because it’s the next line of the song and technically I learned future tense during our 10 weeks of training in Asunción but as a kid I just heard the song and pretty melody of my mom’s voice.
Now the song came back to me and I heard it with new ears and it brought me to tears. Happy tears though. Like, “Whoa, this world is so cool how you keep discovering new layers of understanding.” Maybe it’s like when I found out my elementary school was named Township and not Town Chip. But no, that was more disappointing than enlightening.
As I was recounting the tale of scales falling from my eyes and singing that song (which I happily found here on YouTube) to Isaiah I realized that this is why we keep learning. This why we try new things. This is why we read books and travel and learn new languages. It’s why we taste and cook new foods, talk to new people, walk a different way to work. It’s so we see the stuff we always thought we knew in a new light. So we notice more things around us and marvel at them rather than let them pass by unseen.
Sometimes I don’t like the way the new light of understanding makes something look. I loved going to Washington Town Chip and hated when I realized Ronald McDonald was a clown. But it’s no reason to keep myself planted in one place. Even if that view is nice enough, the pitter patter of my heart as something becomes crystal clear and the excitement of my ears as they fly open in recognition of a newly learned word is so worth it.
What new things are you trying or learning or doing or listening to or reading or tasting these days?
Gold Stars & Double Rainbows 
Such a nice post! Learning new things, discovering life in often the little ways is a gift. I too am trying to learn a bit of Spanish. It is certainly hard work, but gratifying. Not sure how far I will get, but am at least trying.
Muy bien, Patty! Keep at it because you’re right that it’s rewarding even though it’s hard work. Check out Genius if a memorization/flash card type program interests you.
Beautiful and helpful reflection, Allison! Thanks for sharing your wisdom!
Thanks, Dianne! I have a feeling it’s a post I’ll need to go back and read for myself the next time I forget all the good that can result from trying new things (likely sooner than I’d prefer to admit!).
Great story about layers of enlightenment. New things tried …. hmmm … well, this evening Isaiah’s Aunt Emily and his cousin Joanna and I ate dinner at Kelly Jae’s in downtown Goshen. Tapis … a new concept in eating.
Sounds like a great time at Kelly Jae’s!
I laughed real hard at the thought of Washington Town Chip! 🙂
– Erin
Haha – I always kinda pictured a big tortilla chip being our mascot or something. Yum!
Town Chip made me laugh, too! Your Grandma Louise sang “Que será, será” to your mom and me, and I think I remember your Great-Grandma Emily singing it.
I liked Alice’s reference to “layers of enlightenment.” Lovely post.
So neat to hear that song has been passed through the generations!
Such a great reflection/challenge…but I’m stuck on the moment of realizing Ronald McDonald is a clown. I’m right there with you on that being a life changing (and scarring) moment 🙂
I was so happy to find a friend who had the Ronald realization a little late in life. A definite bonding moment for us, wouldn’t you say?
Definitely a bonding moment!!