“I bid him look into the lives of men as though into a mirror, and from others to take an example for himself. “

~ Terence [Publius Terentius Afer] in Adelphoe (The Brothers), 1.415

In the Lewis family, we joke about a genetic predilection for learning the hard way. While personal experience and natural consequences tend to be unforgettable teachers, I’ve been a student of other people for as long as I can remember, in hopes of not repeating their mistakes. (Pain avoidance is my preference!) I think it is also part of having a writer’s mind — observing others and trying to figure out what makes them tick. We can learn something from everyone!

When studying others, do you learn the most from their successes or failures? Is there anyone in particular from whom you’ve learned a lot?

For fun, check out the “Because of Them, We Can” campaign here.