Learning never comes from this middle-ground, but from the edges of our belief system. Real learning takes place when we discover new ways of thinking. New nets and assemblies occur, loops form, alternate pathways develop. The viewed world is different and so is the viewer. Consequently, I've become a grand fan of the alternative press, and I try to read articles and books that I don't agree with.
Personal curiosities lead only so far.
Good friends shape one's sense of the world. I've learned to see the world through eyes other than my own. When plans were being set for the 1998 Collins LLC reunion, I dismissed the idea of returning for a few reasons. First, the trip was going to be expensive. But more importantly, it was comfortable to have Bloomington, to have Indiana and to have Collins in the past - kind of like a safety deposit box for memories.