Old Hat

Growing up, I felt like education was a hard time
Learning everything atat once, I never colored between the lines
Too much art when all I wanted was to read
Too much scientific information I didn't need

My report card said that I wasn't performing
Up to potential
Teacher chagrin at conferences was torrential

I was looking back on those days recently
Because education doesn't stop with school
Life lessons learned the hard way
Life experience begins to sort exceptions from rules

It's the learning about one's self, one's spirit, one's soul
What to accept, what to reject
When to gamble, when not to bet
When to give the benefit, when to shake your head
When to sit up and worry, when to go to bed

Each new situation brings new worries, yes
But for something to become old hat it has to be tried on and worn
Sometimes for the soul to grow it has to be torn

And although learning sometimes equals consternation
Every day is an education