Tying It All Up
The previous three blogs in my series have, admittedly, seemed somewhat random. And it might appear they have little to do with one another. So, I wanted to write one last piece to tie them together. Let’s talk about why learning for the sake of learning is important.
The first concerned leaving a legacy – what you leave behind when you die. The second described desire to change the world, concluding that you can instead have an impact within another’s life. Finally, the third featured a brief discussion on the health benefits of hobbies.
Now, I hesitate to even say knowledge can be its own goal. After all, it’s generally passed on in some form or another. That might not be true in all cases. But most of the time, knowledge serves as a means to some end, be it profitable or not.
Take my previous example of writing a novel. The one I’m currently writing, in large part, details the vicious, cyclical nature of violence, where vengeance begets further vengeance. The reason I’ve centered my book on this concept is because it’s important to me. It’s something I hold dear, and hope to convey to my child and their children. And even if I can’t change the world with it, I want to have the chance to change someone’s outlook. In this way, all three of my previous concepts intertwine: the desire to leave a legacy of nonviolence, the cultivation of my own garden, and my love of writing.
But here’s the catch: all of this is hinged on the fact that I learned to write. I’ve spent time cultivating that skill and practicing, understanding how to better that talent. That way, I can hopefully produce something worthwhile and formative on other peoples’ ideals.
Legacy through Learning
When you learn to do something, and especially when you learn to do something well, you have the ability to pass that knowledge or skill on to someone else, who might build on what you’ve taught them to accomplish even greater things. In this way, learning is never just for its own sake. When people seek to educate themselves on a certain topic or skill, they position themselves to discover, to leave behind a legacy which others can build on. It allows them to teach and to grow. Even if they never make money off of that knowledge, they have the chance to make the world a better place, if only in some small way.
That is the purpose of continuing education, and that’s why I’ve invested myself in VTR. Whether business, art, law, music, or some other realm, it’s important to remember why learning is important. We share the need to discover new things worth enjoying and leave a legacy which others can build upon to accomplish great things. Even if you, yourself, aren’t the one to accomplish those things, the very fact that you’ll have taken part in shaping that legacy ensures that, even if no one knows your name, your life will have meant something.
And of course, this isn’t to say that leaving a legacy is the only way of making a life with meaning and purpose. But, in my contemplations these past few weeks, I’ve realized that it is one way to do so.
Article written by Braden Norwood
Last updated March 10, 2023
