I have a book from Mayo Clinic on how to live stress-free. I’m afraid that the only way to live stress-free is to die and become a zombie or sociopathic vampire, but that’s not the topic of this post. We can use a few positives right now. I’d like to share one happy thought about America that has always impressed me.

We are wonderfully generous about letting people into college. A person can take classes forever. The loan scenario gets tricky, but careful people who don’t dig deep financial holes get to peacefully go on learning throughout their lives. Americans who want to become teachers or nurses in their forties can switch careers, often without quitting their day jobs. My evening education cohort included three people definitely over forty as well as that smattering of thirty-somes and the “kids.” We spent two years of frequent, long evenings together, but mostly that experience felt like fun. For that matter, if you are looking to learn for the sake of learning, check out Coursera.

So many options, so little time. Local community colleges tend to be affordable. Sometimes employers pay for classes, too.

Overall, the world tends to be less flexible, but America generously hands out second, third and fourth chances to men and women who decide they have laid their last tile, fixed their last burger, or raised their last kid. We seldom close the gate for chronological reasons. We love comebacks.

Eduhonesty:  “Help will be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it.” The same tends to be true at America’s local colleges and trade schools, as well as many universities.

P.S. Unfulfilled dream or two, reader? Why not lay out plans for making those dreams happen? If your plans look too demanding, you can shelve those ideas for awhile, but change may be waiting right around a corner. Sometimes all we have to do is put on our walking shoes.

P.S.S. Here’s a wild story for today. I had a friend years ago who was avoiding paying student loans by staying in school. I lost track of her, but I found out last week that she has been taking at least six credits per semester to defer her student loans for around 40 years now. I don’t know if she is brilliant or crazy. She has no husband or kids so only her own credit is on the line. If she dies, I guess taxpayers will pick up those guaranteed student loans.

I am told she is getting a Masters in Software Engineering at the moment.

Imagine — all the world’s knowledge at your fingertips. The only cost? You never get to stop taking classes. Like I say, brilliant or crazy… I don’t know which. Maybe both?