The Gift of Learning

Pip Gerard

The Gift of Learning

I was watching the movie “The Ultimate Gift” listening to the character played by James Garner talking to his grandson when he said… ‘Learning is a gift… even if pain is your teacher”. As soon as the words had finished coming out of his mouth I honestly said out loud – YES!! Immediately I was blown away by the quote and I wrote it down and thought about its meaning for weeks. I’ve never felt so affected by a sentence before.

Upon reflecting this quote I found quite confronting to realise that I spent my twenties doing everything to avoid and “run away” from my emotional pain.. Now in my 30s I’ve realised that pain was essential for me to be a more caring, less-judgemental and forgiving person.

Pain seems to show us the truth in others… the truth that all people, no matter what’s on the outside… have a heart capable of breaking on the inside.

It gives me great comfort that I can now view the grief of my brothers death as somewhat of a gift to me – rather than nothing but a loss

FEATURED IN Prize Challenges GROUP
FEATURED IN Creative Inspirations
FEATURED IN YOU’RE ACCEPTED GROUP
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FEATURED IN TYPOGRAPHY GROUP
FEATURED IN THE ART OF PAIN GROUP

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The Gift of Learning belongs to the following groups:

***♂♥♥QUORN♥♥♀, All Things Poetic, Artistic, Philosophical, Beige is death!, Bits and Pieces , Core [C.O.R.E], Creative Inspirations - [2pw], Ebony and Ivory, First Things, For the love of type, Freedom to Shine, Live, Love, Dream: , Moms 4 Art, Outsiders, PixElations - The Art of Photoshop, Safe Haven, The Art of Pain, The Graphic Room-Graphic and Digital Art, The Patchwork , THE SISTERHOOD, The true beauty and Typography Available for sale as

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The Gift of Learning by Pip Gerard
  • lallymac

    lallymac

    That is an AWESOME quote!!! Well captured.

    It says in the Bible that God turns EVERYTHING to the good for those who love Him, and I can honestly say that has been true in my life:)

  • Maria Dryfhout

    Maria Dryfhout

    Excellent….

  • Melissa Park

    Melissa Park

    Congratulations !! this image has been

    in Prize Challenges!!

  • Pip Gerard replied

    Thanks Melissa – that’s wonderful!!

  • GayeL Art

    GayeL Art

    Thank you for sharing this, Pip…makes you think…..considering we learn something new every day….

  • Pip Gerard replied

    Thanks Gaye… like to hear when things make others stop to think cause I like it when that happens to me.

  • Lorna Gerard

    Lorna Gerard

    Thank you Pip, i am also thankful for the gift.

  • danabee

    danabee

    Great quote and I love what you wrote about this. Very very inspiring!

  • Tony Ryan

    Tony Ryan

    Wonderful words. I am about to put out a group bubblemail on the creative inspirations group about this same topic. Will add this and highlight on the bubblemail.

  • Pip Gerard replied

    Wow, talk about amazing timing. Thanks Tony that would be wonderful.

  • eon .

    eon .

    Experience is also a gift, only you usually get it just after ya needed it. ( ’ – ))

  • Cora Wandel

    Cora Wandel

    Excellent Pip! – Cora

  • Mammalia

    Mammalia

    Oh SO FORSURE!!! Awesome concept Pip!!

  • aglaia b

    aglaia b

    very clever design and there is so much truth in that statement indeed! ;-) xox

  • tdub303

    tdub303

    wicked. and the commentary makes it even more powerful…

  • amanda Rae

    amanda Rae

    what can i say….i too shout “yes” as i read your work..strong peice..brilliant

  • invisible

    invisible

    WELL DONE …..BEAUTIFUL !

  • Cindy Olivier

    Cindy Olivier

    love the quote

  • Dayonda

    Dayonda

    So absolutely true! Physical pain enables great learning, too.
    My father, raised by Chinese people, told me there has to be cold in order to appreciate warmth, rough to understand smooth. Pain is given as a gift of love to us in order to have us work harder for the same that others take for granted. I thought of how they “handicap” a racehorse by putting weights in the saddle to even out the contest for those less-able horses in the race. This means that “handicapped” is the exact opposite of what we have always thought it meant: a handicap is given to one to help others shine, too.

  • Pip Gerard replied

    you’re so right. I love that analogy of the handicapped horses!!
    I always talk about the balance of life! Without sadness we would not recognise joy… without dark there would be no light and vice versa.
    And I think pain is so negatively ‘painful’ because we make it so. Just as we make things into a negative experience when they don’t necessarily have to be! All conditioning I suppose.
    I know all this… but actually feeling it and making my mind put them into practice is another thing altogether :)
    thanks for the wonderful comment… I really appreciate it.

  • Dayonda

    Dayonda

    You’re welcome. . . you’ll put them into action automatically as you continue along in years. If you learn this stuff fast, you might graduate early… LoL!

  • Nancy Chambers

    Nancy Chambers

  • raae

    raae

    I can understand why this is so popular! It’s fantastic – and so is all of your other stuff :)

  • Pip Gerard replied

    thanks Raae… I really appreciate your comments… especially when I love your stuff :D

    (I’m replying again because I did wrong last time so I don’t think you would have read it.)

  • bev langby

    bev langby

    Wonderful Pip ive also just read your comment in the “Silenced” thread and your words were so familiar and really touched me , thank u for sharing ….

  • Pip Gerard replied

    Hi Bev.
    I can’t think of what the silenced thread is? Can you help me to know what comment you mean?
    I really appreciate that you’ve taken the time to let me know that this meant something to you. Always means so much when such a profound moment and lesson in my life can then be shared with others.

  • artist4peace

    artist4peace

    Besos….

  • DragonFlyer

    DragonFlyer

    BIG congrats on this image being featured on the home page Pip – 25th May 2009 – It looks sensational up there :)))

  • Heabar

    Heabar

    Thanks for sharing Pip—its so true & wherever there is a negative there is always a positive !!! tc Heather !!! at my youn age of 71 lol i’m really learning what this quote is all about haha & thanks also to lallymac because i know God turns all things to GOOD who loves the Lord Jesus Christ amen !!!

  • Pip Gerard replied

    We’ll all forever be learning won’t we… right to the very end.
    thanks for your lovely comment :D

  • CapturedByKylie

    CapturedByKylie

    LOOK AT US ON THE HOME PAGE!!!!! A HUGE Congratulations to you Pip for having your work here on Home Page!! May 25th 2009.
    Isn’t this so exciting!! It’s such a great feeling when our home page suggestions make it, but for our own work! Now i know how the other featured artists feel! WOOHOO!!

  • DeviousLili

    DeviousLili

    Congrats, Pip!!! xox

  • ZoeMcduncan

    ZoeMcduncan

    Well done…true words!!!!!

  • Chris Lupetti

    Chris Lupetti

    Great quote.

  • pyko

    pyko

    great quote indeed :) and like it how you’ve used the lined paper and childish handwriting.

  • Pip Gerard replied

    I thought the blackboard and childish writing would go well with the learning quote. thanks for noticing :D

  • DebbieSteer

    DebbieSteer

    awsome quote

  • DebbieSteer

    DebbieSteer

    congrats on home page today

  • sugargirl

    sugargirl

    Congratulations on your homepage feature Pip!!

  • amanda marx

    amanda marx

    great quote pip, reminiscent of one along similar lines from the novel shantaram – nothing in any life, no matter how well or poorly lived, is wiser than failure or clearer than sorrow
    love your graphic
    cheers sweetie
    xXx

  • Pip Gerard replied

    I can’t believe you mentioned the book Shantaram because it’s one of my all time favourite books! I met the author a few times and can’t wait to see the movie (with Johnny Depp starring as Lin).

  • anniemaree

    anniemaree

    yes. :)

  • Lorena Maria

    Lorena Maria

    Love your graphic!!!! CLEVER

  • aglaia b

    aglaia b

    well done babe, i’m glad this amazing piece is recognised a little more.
    congratulations. ;-) xox

  • Pip Gerard replied

    I know how amazing is that… the same quote twice on the homepage!! The first thanks to you my very sweet friend. xoxo
    It really means so much to me that something I’ve learned that changed my life can be shared with others.

  • aglaia b

    aglaia b

  • Waleska Luker

    Waleska Luker

    Congratulations! This work has being Featured in the...
    First Things Group

  • amanda marx

    amanda marx

    it is a great read hey & Johnny Depp be as Lin !!! can’t wait . . .
    xXx

  • Pip Gerard replied

    I can’t wait either! :D
    Thanks for sharing that truly wonderful quote by Greg here… that man is truly a brilliant writer… and Shantaram is his masterpiece!! I learned so much from reading it and from meeting him… especially about my own self forgiveness and love.

  • amanda marx

    amanda marx

    i’m hoping he has more in store for us one day . . . i could happily sit down now & re-read the whole book again . . . we’ll have to compare notes after we’ve seen the film
    xXx

  • Pip Gerard replied

    I’ve already read the book twice! And it’s such a bloody BIG book too :D LOL I was actually one of the few and very lucky ones to read the manuscript before it was published. Reading that manuscript changed my life.
    Did you know the author Greg is from Melbourne?? He’s an incredible guy!
    Shantaram took him so many years to write so I’m sure there will be more coming… we just have to wait patiently for such genius.
    Will definitely love to compare notes after the film.

  • Sanne Thijs

    Sanne Thijs

    Congrats Pip. I love the feeling of a homepage feature, do you?

  • bev langby

    bev langby

    oh boy cant find it now it was the one of the girl with a gag around her mouth with insults written on it ….....

  • Pip Gerard replied

    I know the one…
    this extremely powerful piece…

    thanks again for your comments… means so much to me.

  • Lorna Gerard

    Lorna Gerard

    Congratulations Pip on the Homepage, I am so proud….and the quote is so true.
    Can i borrow the book please.

  • Ingz

    Ingz

    many many congratulations on your Homepage feature Pip xxxx

  • Colleen Milburn

    Colleen Milburn

    Woohoo!!! Huge congrats on the RB homepage, dear Pip – it’s so wonderful to be sharing it with you!! :))

  • Erhan OZBIYIK

    Erhan OZBIYIK

    I love thinkin people.. I love exploring people.. I love good people bringing thoughts and senses out.. This is such a GREAT feel… I am lucky that I am around these souls…

    GREAT WORK !!!

    And Congratulations…
    Sincerely.

  • Pip Gerard replied

    this is such a special comment – THANK YOU!!!

  • joyousmoon

    joyousmoon

    Wonderful. Congratulations on your feature!

  • amanda marx

    amanda marx

    yes, i’ve followed most of gregs biography with rapt facination . . . lots more to come no doubt
    xXx

  • terezadelpilar

    terezadelpilar

    so fabulous!!!

  • Julialala

    Julialala

    Congrats! You’ve been featured in The Art Of Pain

  • Sarah ORourke

    Sarah ORourke

    So true, there’s nothing we can’t learn something from.
    :)

  • Pip Gerard replied

    ♥♥♥

  • Dawn Meadows

    Dawn Meadows

    Heartfelt work & I do understand as life has all sorts of pain. Yet we can be more than conquerors in every situation. ( eventually)

  • Pip Gerard replied

    thanks Dawn.. I really appreciate it. And welcome to Red Bubble :D

  • TaniaLosada

    TaniaLosada

    Love it!

  • Tadoette

    Tadoette

    brilliant!

  • Marion Cullen

    Marion Cullen

    Never truer words spoken (written).
    :)

  • Pip Gerard replied

    : ) ♥

  • Lorena Maria

    Lorena Maria 22 days ago

    Ohhh.. awesome quote!!! Very very inspiring. ;o)))

  • Pip Gerard replied 22 days ago

    thanks Lorena… it’s helped me enormously to see things in a much more positive viewpoint that’s for sure. I appreciate the comment and fave so very much. ♥

  • chugginrail

    chugginrail 6 days ago

    love this!!

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