| > | | | | yourself. You’re improving yourself — |
| Wrong question to ask. It’s way too | | | | perhaps in spirit, character or even soul. For which, of |
| short-sighted. | | | | course, there is no price. |
| Why? Because today’s market is just that -- | | | | "The advantage of a classical education," said Russell |
| today’s market, and because your life is more | | | | Green, "is that it enables you to despise the wealth |
| than your pay check and you are more than your | | | | that it prevents you from achieving." |
| work. | | | | Now here's the question -- Are you educating |
| Education seems aimed at specific goals, often | | | | yourself only in order to make money, or are you |
| relating to work, and that’s a good thing. But | | | | learning in order to build a foundation for your life? |
| let’s look at learning, learning for the joy of | | | | Your work is only part of your life. It’s smart |
| learning, because life is more than work and you are | | | | to get an education that enables you to earn a living, |
| more than your job. (Balance.) | | | | but why stop there? Why starve at a smorgasbord? |
| When I was in high school, I asked my father why I | | | | Studies show that the trajectory of those who die in |
| had to learn Latin. I saw no earthly purpose in learning | | | | their 5th and 6th decade is school, then work, then |
| Latin. But then I saw no earthly purpose in learning | | | | retirement. (Siebert) Lifelong learning, on the other |
| algebra, or geology, or actually even in high school. | | | | hand, builds resilience and contributes to wellness and |
| He replied, For your own edification. | | | | long life. Furthermore, I contend, it’s a life |
| I got the drift — for my own good | | | | you’ll enjoy living longer. Jobs come and go, as |
| — but never really looked the word up. | | | | do careers, and people. Learning ... is forever. |
| Seemed like a lot of the things I didn’t want | | | | Learning, says David Christensen in his book Inner |
| to do those days, like get 8 hours sleep, eat | | | | Victory, is a thirst to know more, to know better |
| breakfast, make my bed, and practice the piano, | | | | ways, to know why. |
| were for my own good. | | | | You must learn day by day, year by year to |
| Well, here's what it means, | | | | broaden your horizon, said Ethel Barrymore. |
| Main Entry: ed·i·fy. Etymology: Middle English from | | | | The more things you love, the more you are |
| Late Latin aedificare to instruct or improve spiritually, | | | | interested in, the more you enjoy, the more you are |
| from Latin, to erect a house, from aedes temple, | | | | indignant about, the more you have left when |
| house. | | | | anything happens. |
| 1 : archaic a : BUILD b : ESTABLISH | | | | Getting an education: $100,000 |
| 2 : to instruct and improve especially in moral and | | | | Getting a promotion: $40,000 |
| religious knowledge; also : ENLIGHTEN, INFORM. | | | | Learning: Priceless |
| So there you have it. You’re building a | | | | P.S. Thanks, Dad! |
| foundation, constructing a temple, enlightening | | | | |