I am very open to learning. I am like a sponge: I'd like to soak

In the radiant words of Catriona Gray, whose grace is matched only by her wisdom, we find a truth that shines like the morning sun: “I am very open to learning. I am like a sponge: I’d like to soak up in new things, new skills.” At first, these words seem gentle, humble, and light—but within them lies the secret of all growth, all mastery, and all greatness. To be open to learning is to live in harmony with the rhythm of life itself, for life is a ceaseless teacher. Those who close their minds to learning close their souls to transformation. But those who, like Catriona, approach the world as a sponge, ready to soak up knowledge, experiences, and wisdom, become ever renewed—never stagnant, never diminished.

This saying springs from a spirit of humility and hunger, the twin virtues of every true seeker. Catriona Gray, crowned not merely for her beauty but for her depth, spoke these words as a reflection of her own journey—a life marked by curiosity and courage. In a world that often rewards appearances more than substance, her declaration stands as a quiet act of rebellion: to learn, to grow, to keep evolving is the highest form of grace. To be a sponge is not to be passive—it is to be alive with awareness, absorbing, understanding, and transforming all that touches you into wisdom.

The ancients knew this truth well. The philosopher Socrates, called the wisest of men, proclaimed that his only wisdom was in knowing that he knew nothing. It was this humility that made him great—the recognition that knowledge is infinite and that the mind must remain open, like a vessel unfilled, if it is to receive truth. The same essence breathes in Catriona’s words. She reminds us that those who believe they have learned enough become like a closed jar—sealed from growth, untouched by the living waters of knowledge. But those who remain receptive, curious, and eager are like rivers—ever flowing, ever changing, ever full of life.

Consider the tale of Leonardo da Vinci, the eternal student of the universe. He studied the flight of birds, the flow of water, the anatomy of the human hand, the play of light upon faces. He never ceased to soak up knowledge from every corner of existence. His notebooks overflowed not with answers, but with questions—each discovery a doorway to another mystery. It was this openness, this sponge-like thirst for learning, that made him not merely an artist or inventor, but a being who seemed to touch the divine. From this spirit, we see that learning is not a duty, but a sacred act—a communion with the infinite wisdom of creation.

To be like a sponge is also to have courage, for true learning often means unlearning what is false, and venturing into the unknown. Many fear this, preferring the safety of what they already know. But those who, like Catriona, embrace the unknown with an open heart are the ones who transcend their limits. They understand that every new skill, every new idea, every new experience is a key that unlocks a deeper part of themselves. The open mind does not weaken with change—it expands, it deepens, it thrives.

The spirit of learning is not confined to classrooms or titles; it lives in every act of curiosity, every moment of listening, every willingness to grow. The artist learns from light and shadow; the farmer learns from the seasons; the parent learns from the child. All of life is a conversation between the world and the learner. Those who, like Catriona, remain open, do not merely acquire skills—they evolve. They move closer to wisdom, which is not stored in the mind alone, but in the heart that learns to understand.

So, O seeker of knowledge, take this teaching into your own life: be open to learning in all its forms. When you meet a stranger, listen. When you fail, reflect. When the world challenges you, do not retreat—absorb what it has to teach. Read books, yes, but also read the stars, the silences, the faces of those you love. Let your curiosity be unquenchable. Let your humility be your strength. For the one who never ceases to learn never truly grows old—they remain, in spirit, forever new.

And remember always the wisdom of Catriona Gray: “I am very open to learning. I am like a sponge: I’d like to soak up in new things, new skills.” Let these words remind you that the greatest glory of humankind is not in knowing, but in becoming—not in being perfect, but in being willing to grow. For the mind that remains open to the world becomes as vast and radiant as the world itself.