Have you ever felt like you were running a race on a treadmill, working harder and harder but never actually arriving anywhere meaningful? John Adams captured this feeling so beautifully when he spoke about the two types of education. One is the practical side, the one that teaches us how to navigate spreadsheets, earn a paycheck, and manage our daily responsibilities. The other is the much deeper, more soulful side that teaches us how to actually enjoy the life we are working so hard to build. It is the art of finding joy, connection, and purpose amidst the chaos of our schedules.
In our modern world, we spend so much time focusing on the first type of education. We attend workshops, learn new software, and study market trends because we know we need to make a living. There is nothing wrong with being capable and hardworking, but if we only focus on the mechanics of survival, we might wake up one day realizing we have forgotten how to be happy. We become masters of the grind, but strangers to our own hearts. The second education is about learning how to notice the sunlight hitting a window, how to listen deeply to a friend, and how to find peace even when things are uncertain.
I remember a time when I was feeling quite overwhelmed with my own little tasks, trying to make sure every little detail was perfect for my readers. I was so focused on the 'how-to' of writing and organizing that I completely missed the beauty of a quiet morning coffee. I was technically doing a great job at making a living, but I wasn't actually living. It wasn't until I forced myself to step away from the screen and just sit with my thoughts that I realized my 'education' was dangerously lopsided. I had to relearn how to breathe and appreciate the stillness.
We don't have to abandon our responsibilities to find this balance, but we do need to make intentional space for the soul. It means treating your personal growth, your hobbies, and your rest with the same importance as your career milestones. It means studying the way your heart reacts to kindness and learning the language of gratitude.
Today, I want to gently nudge you to look at your schedule. Is there a small way you can practice the second kind of education? Perhaps it is a five-minute walk without your phone, or a moment to truly savor your lunch. Let's start learning how to live, one small, beautiful moment at a time.