The Power of Perpetual learning
Andres a school going boy along his parents lived in a small flat in a moderate building in remote area of Barcelona Spain. Spanish government had arranged flat because of disability of his father. From the childhood he had seen his father on wheel chair painting pictures and his mother going to market for sale or delivery of pictures painted on order. Occasionally customers contacted his father directly. This all helped to run their kitchen.
Andress was intelligent and his parents were very much interested in getting him educated. After returning from school, he used to closely watch his father sitting on wheel chair and working hard. A big wooden board had hung on a wall of small room of their flat for years. His mother used to paste big paper chart on board and arrange all necessary things on small old side table for the facility of his father who worked till late in evening with full concentration.
Being impressed of father’s painting skills, he made a habit of drawing and painting pictures on small papers while placing on floor. Despite the many challenges, Andres' fathers never lost faith in his son's abilities. He knew that with the right guidance and support, his son could achieve great things. And so, he encouraged Andres to continue his studies, even when times were tough and resources were scarce. His unwavering dedication and belief in his son's potential helped to shape his life.
Andress discussed his small jobs daily at night for father’s guidance. It helped in improving his work a lot. By the time he cleared O level, his painting skills had groomed to quite good extent but despite his work being appreciated by many, was not able to get reasonable price.
He continued hard work after school timings. His painting work was always scrutinized and examined by his father with a critical eye which gave Andress big relief and boost. He was fortunate of having a professional teacher at home and it all helped in improving market price of his paintings.
With passage of time, he got inclined towards natural beauty and his painting work started reflecting his taste. One evening, he thought of getting support of modern techniques in order to get new ideas, quality and scale. His parents could neither afford to buy computer for him nor internet connection at home, so decided to join Net café in nearby colony.
He selected a Net café which was economical and was of reasonable size having more than fifteen desks. In his visits he always noticed a young smart girl busy in administrative or computer work. She seemed hardworking. He never had the courage to talk with her but had started liking her. He felt her absence the day she was not there.
Some months later, one evening that young smart girl came close to him and sat beside him on a vacant chair. On feeling her perfume smell he simply looked at her but could not say anything. He was a bit confused and tried to concentrate on his work until the girl in a very low and soft voice introduced herself as Loucia daughter of café’s owner. She admired his regular work and wanted to know about him. Andress was delighted as he had waited for these moments for last many weeks. Loucia was very polite and had a smiling face which forced Andress to tell everything about himself and his objective of visiting there. He promised to show her last completed painting. That evening he left Net café without doing any work but in a very happy mood.
Photo by cottonbro studio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/kid-on-white-table-painting-3662630/
At night saw his last painting several times with deep eyes, consulted his father many times and then sat for long time giving final touches. His parents could not understand the reason behind close attention but Andress had non explainable feelings as Loucia was going to see and touch his work.
Next evening Loucia was surprised to see his skills and openly praised. She then sat down to tell him about herself. She was only daughter of her parents. Her two brothers were employed in Dubai. Her father was employed in a private company as an engineer and had opened that café on her wish. She herself was taking some computer classes as well as working as web & Graphic designer. They lived in building just behind café’s sky scraper. In short while they became friends.
In next days, Loucia offered to promote his paintings through a web page. Andress was delighted on new idea but did not know much about the new field. Loucia gave him the details as she herself had developed clientage and was generating business in same way.
The new proposal brought a busy schedule for Andress. His new friend had started working to develop his web page and to market his products but he had no record of his previous work. He struggled hard to get pictures of his previous work from market as well as prepared new paintings to be uploaded on web page. Loucia allocated a small place for him at café to do his painting work there. Andress now had very less time to sit with his father to discuss or take his advice. Moreover, he felt satisfied of working on new modern lines which his father had never seen.
One night he brought with him his new painting at home and placed before his father on his bed. His father was tired of whole day’s work but still sat on bed and started concentrating on painting as usual with a critical eye. After some moments pinpointed the errors and deficiencies. It was a bit shocking and unexpected for Andress who first kept quiet and controlled himself by biting his lips with teeth. Then he could not resist then started arguing. His father first tried to convince but then stopped when his son’s voice got louder. Andress’s mother was also surprised on response of her son and failed to cool him down. Ultimately his father kept aside the painting and laid on bed with wet eyes. It further irritated Andress and blamed his father of spoiling time in life because of old thinking. From that day onward neither Andress consulted his father regarding his work nor he gave any advice to his son.
Life moved ahead. Friendship between Andres & Loucia grew stronger with passage of time. Andress often visited Loucia’s home but never invited her to meet his parents. Her s home was far more spacious and had all facilities. Andress thought himself lucky to have such friend.
Efforts of Loucia brought results and Andress started getting business at much improved rates. He could now buy better quality paints and equipment. On each income he regularly gave amount to her mother and proper share to Loucia despite her refusal. Her mother used to keep the amount quietly in a bag. She was disappointed since Andress had spoken loudly with his father. Moreover, her son’s attitude had change and had become apathetic.
Many months later, one morning Loucia Informed Andress of a chance for working with a big cancer hospital in Italy. Terms looked very attractive and lucrative. At the first step, membership fee had to be submitted to get eligible for selection procedure. It was going to be a good exposure if selected but membership fee worried him. He and Loucia had a long-detailed sitting and finally decided to take a chance.
In next week, they received an email with details and requirements for the painting to be sent for scrutiny. The email was very professional and had many technical words. Andress got puzzled as never thought that the language could be so tough. Moreover, he had never worked on any medical format. Loucia read email repeatedly for him and tried to gather information regarding unknown requirement. At one point, Andress thought of consulting his father but then rejected the idea on his own thinking that his father had always worked on traditional lines. Another hurdle was that he had never disclosed professional skills of his father with his partner. At the end of day, he decided to move ahead according to his understanding as time was too short.
Andress was very busy in next days as he already had some work to be delivered in market and the medical painting was a big challenge for him. He sketched three different rough sketches and sat to select one for final painting. Loucia read fears and worries on his face and advised to consult someone before giving any final shape. Andress looked at her with deep eyes for few moments and once again concentrated on chart.
They mutually selected one of those for final drawing. They visited market many times in search of specified paper and colors. He had less time for sleep and could hardly find time to see his parents. He also did not even feel necessary to inform his father about different type of task from a big organization.
At last, the day came when Loucia carefully packed the painting and handed over packet to courier. They were relieved on achieving first target date. In very next minutes then got anxious and somewhat worried about possible remarks from client. Courier tracking was regularly checked. On fourth evening parcel reached company’s office. Loucia remained before computer for most of time as she was eager and enthusiastic r to know the response. At around 7pm her heart beat suddenly went fast on seeing email’s notification. She hurriedly started reading but slowly her heart beat slowed down and face color changed. It was getting difficult for her to read the complete text. She got sad. Painting had been rejected with serious objections.
Loucia with heavy heart got its print and shared the contents with Andress. They repeatedly read the email and their earlier instructions but did not have anything to comment. They had totally failed to understand client’s professional language. It was a big monetary as well as time loss. It all had been due to lack of knowledge, experience and guidance. Only point in their favor was that they had not been blacklisted. Andress was very depressed in next hours and Loucia helped him to come out of that phase. She successfully was able to make him realize that it was part of Perpetual learning and encouraged him for future.
Few weeks later, Andress while browsing the internet came across information about art competition with a grand prize that included a one-year artist residency program in Paris, France. Andress was very much excited on reading and immediately called Loucia. She was equally excited and started reading details. Five different ideas had been mentioned there and the interested Artists had to dispatch one painting of size 51 X 62cm covering any one of the mentioned 5 ideas. The painting had to reach their office in next 10days. The language of the 5choices was once again professional and very tricky.
They both sat quietly in front of computer for several minutes. Andress did not want to waste opportunity but also had no extra money to waste. Finally, Loucia broke silence and said,” If you are really interested then first take advice from some professional.” There was once again silence in room for few moments before Loucia spoke again, “Time is too limited. DHL courier also needs at least 3 working days for delivery.” Andres heard with patience and concentration. He agreed to whatever she said but the main questioning his mind was that who will give sincere advice.
Thought of his father once again came in Andress mind. He deeply thought about his skills and cursed himself. He with closed eyed admitted that had he taken first case to him then results could have been different. He surely would have given sincere advice and might have referred to some expert. While taking small sips of water thought of taking present matter to father but then could not decide. He remembered that he had not talked with him on any professional matter since last many months. At the same time had to take Loucia in confidence who despite very close relationship did not know anything about his parents. He had been very cautious about his parents as felt embarrassment because of his father’s disability and a very small flat with limited essentials there. Thus, now was not sure of her response and reaction.
He kept silent for several moments in search of appropriate words. While taking deep breath, gathered courage and told his partner about painting skills of his father and about possibility of taking advice from him. It was all new for Loucia and she quietly heard with surprising eyes . . . She simply asked his home address and did not feel like asking reasons behind hiding along not consulting first.
Next morning Loucia reached his flat on time along envelope having fresh email and previous case with snap of rejected painting. Andress parents were astonished to see a young, smart educated girl at their door but then whole heartedly welcomed her on being introduced buy Andress as her partner and friend. Loucia was pleased and impressed to see courtesy of his parents and then painting work of his father. She while taking a cup of coffee softly explained the matter. Andress father did not show any resentment rather quietly looked at rejected medical painting before keeping at side. He then concentrated on fresh email from France and read it several times before carefully noting main points. There was complete silence in room for almost an hour and Andress’s father was busy in drawing different lines on paper. He then kept the paper in front of his son and started guiding him how to proceed ahead. He was very polite and looked very professional. Loucia sat there for more than two hours closely watching working of a disabled person. She was further moved on seeing Andress mother handing over a small bag with some currency to her son for usage assuming that he needed amount to buy colors in next days.
Andress remained at home for next four days to work under guidance of his father. He worked hard and put his heart and soul in his painting. finally, a master piece was created. On completion, he could not wait for next morning and so went at night to Loucia’s home to show his painting.
Loucia was amazed to see the drawing and the vibrant colors used. Her parents also appreciated the work and prayed for his success.
A few weeks later, an email was received at Net café notifying Andress as winner. Everyone was overjoyed. Andress could not believe his luck. Loucia along her parents visited Andress home to congratulate.
In next days, Loucia and her father helped Andress in completing all formalities for his travel to Paris. His travelling and lodging were sponsored by a company. During the stay in Paris, he got the chance to meet many artists, see their work and attend seminars which all added to his exposure. There he was approached by three multinational companies inviting him to work for them and he happily sign attractive contracts. Life altogether changed.
On return to Barcelona, he went straight to Loucia and proposed her which she happily accepted. They then both went to meet Andress parents and inform them of success and future life decision . The parents were overjoyed and forgot all previous bad feelings . Same week ,he while attending a school function admitted that his success had been only possible because of continuous guidance and positive critical eye of his father and cooperation of Loucia. He advised them to remember the importance of Power of Perpetual learning.
Conclusion :
Learning is a non-ending process and continues throughout life. This story, we have seen that Andress faced difficulties in shape of monetary and time loss when he got over confident of his abilities and refused to consult with his father. This article also emphasis that continuous learning can touch new horizons and open new opportunities.
Keywords:
Barcelona, Spain
Disability
Painting
Education
Father-son relationship
Artistic skills
Web & Graphic design
Professional guidance
Friendship
Challenges
Opportunity
Rejection
Perpetual learning
Art competition
Success and transformation
