like a divorce? death of a dog? what do u mean?

The question is a little odd. Of course life experiences influence our intellectual and personal growth. I used to work with 13 year-olds who thought they knew everything they were ever going to need to know, even though they had no clue what they were going to face in the coming months, let alone the coming decades.

I’ll assume that you are asking for a specific event that shaped a particular part of my intellectual or personal growth, so let me give you an example:

When I was a child, we spent a great deal of time outside. My chores required that I spend time out in the pastures to bring the cows in to be milked. All I had to do really was get them headed the right way, then their own habits would take them on the path to the barn. That meant I could let my mind wander. I saw wild flowers that were small and couldn’t be seen from the distance of the road. There is beauty almost anywhere if one makes the effort to see it. I saw the sunset, and felt the gentle breezes turn to harsher winds as the summer and fall faded to winter. These indicated the passage of time, and how we should take advantage of the moments given to us. I was able to examine weeds closely, and see that even plants that were a nuisance were structured and adapted to the needs of the prairies. It was an opportunity to learn that no matter how “boring” a place is, there are things to learn and examine and find beauty in. Even the harsh weather was an experience to tuck away for another day, when you needed the words to show how fear was like wind tearing at your scarf, leaving you feeling exposed, cold and alone.

I could write a book. I might. Looking back at this answer, it seems as if I already got a start! Thanks…even if it isn’t the answer you wanted, it was still a life experience for me, right?

Shortly after completing a college degree I made some money, sold my house and took a couple of years off. I had planned to travel, play, and read a 10 ft high stack of books that I hadn’t had time for when I was a student. I found that being retired was harder than I thought. I did find the time to study and play with the “COSMIC JOKE” and that led me to many new adventures in life. I eventually returned to the world of work and was a new person. I loved working and was happy to have work that helped me to grow and become a better person. I have never felt trapped in my job, never felt overly fearful of trying new things, and was able to laugh at myself when I made mistakes.