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Wrong question to ask. It’s way too
short-sighted.
Why? Because today’s market is just that --
today’s market, and because your life is more than
your pay check and you are more than your work.
Education seems aimed at specific goals, often
relating to specific jobs, and that’s a good
thing. But let’s look at learning, learning
for the joy of learning, because life is more
than work and you are more than your job.
(Balance.)
When I was in high school, I asked my father why I
had to learn Latin. I saw no earthly purpose in
learning Latin. But then I saw no earthly purpose
in learning algebra, or geology, or actually even
in high school.
He replied, “For your own edification.”
I got the drift – “for my own good” – but never
really looked the word up. Seemed like a lot of
the things I didn’t want to do those days, like
get 8 hours sleep, eat breakfast, make my bed, and
practice the piano, were “for my own good.”
Well, here's what it means:
Main Entry: ed·i·fy.
Etymology: Middle English from Late Latin
aedificare to instruct or improve spiritually,
from Latin, to erect a house, from aedes temple,
house.
1 : archaic a : BUILD b : ESTABLISH
2 : to instruct and improve especially in moral
and religious knowledge; also : ENLIGHTEN, INFORM.
So there you have it. You’re building a
foundation, constructing a temple, enlightening
yourself. You’re improving yourself – perhaps in
spirit, character or even soul. For which, of
course, there is no price.
"The advantage of a classical education," said
Russell Green, "is that it enables you to despise
the wealth that it prevents you from achieving."
Now here's the question -- Are you educating
yourself only in order to make money, or are you
learning in order to build a foundation for your
life?
Your work is only part of your life. It’s smart
to get an education that enables you to earn a
living, but why stop there? Why starve at a
smorgasbord?
Studies show that the trajectory of those who die
in their 5th and 6th decade is school, then work,
then retirement. Lifelong learning, on the other
hand, builds resilience and contributes to
wellness and long life. (Siebert, Ph.D.)
Furthermore, I contend, it’s a life you’ll
enjoy living longer. Jobs come and go, as do
careers, and people. Learning … is forever.
Learning, says David Christensen in his book
“Inner Victory,” "is a thirst to know more, to know
better ways, to know why.”
“You must learn day by day, year by year to
broaden your horizon,” said Ethel Barrymore. “The
more things you love, the more you are interested
in, the more you enjoy, the more you are indignant
about, the more you have left when anything
happens.”
Getting an education: $50,000
Getting a promotion: $10,000
Learning: Priceless
P.S. Thanks, Dad! About this -- and so many other
things -- you were right. Res ipse loquitur.
©Susan Dunn, THE EQ Coach,
http://www.susandunn.cc. Here to assist, inspire, support and transform
your experience of yourself, your life, your
relationships, your career and your world through
the magic of emotional intelligence competencies
(EQ). To take my Strengths© Course, go here –
http://www.susandunn.cc/courses.htm.
Mailto:sdunn@s... for FREE ezine.
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