If we want to be successful in life, is it always about learning?

Question

My Dad used to tell me that in order to get ahead, we always have to be improving ourselves and learning new things. I thought he was too serious and getting on my case about school or work as I was growing up.. now I'm starting to see what he's talking about.

Right now I'm in the process of applying to grad school.. which I am looking forward to and hope it will advance me to a position where I can be happy, manage and feel fulfilled. But I feel like my life has always been about learning, learning and trying to improve (both on an educational and mental level). Granted, I partied a lot during the wknds in the last couple of years.. but now I find myself with this new job and just studying and improving. Now it's sort of depressing me and dragging me down a bit.

Is this the right way of living? Am I supposed to balance out work and play? Or am I supposed to reap the benefits of working hard later?

Oops, i meant to add that.. I'm basically studying 24/7 almost.. when I'm not at work, I'm studying at home.. I don't go out on wknds anymore b/c I'm preparing for the GMAT, or learning test taking tips or reading about my field. I know, I sound like a nerd.. and trust me, I'm not!

Answer 1

A nerd? Hardly. You do sound sensible and focused and someone who knows what she wants out of life. That's quite impressive in today's young adults.

I do understand what you are asking. Does this amount of effort ever stop? Will you ever be able to sit back and reap the rewards of all your work? And the answer is, "yes" ... at least as much as you want it to. You will find that you don't WANT it to totally stop, because you will become bored. Learning and growing is what gives a lot of spice to life. But you will be able to balance your work life and intellectual pursuits with other things...play, family, the arts, etc. That is the sweetener to life.

And as any good cook knows, the correct balance of spice and sweetener is what makes a great dish...or in our case life. Also, like in a great recipe, you need to know when to add the sweetener. Right now, it is the spice that is needed. The time will come....soon...when it is time to add the sweetener.

Answer 2

Yes, what your Dad said and what you have been doing are good.To build a good career one has to put in hard effort and less partying. Enjoyment .....yes , real enjoyment comes in life after you build a good career at the cost of sacrificing these sort of outings.
Go ahead with you best efforts in studies and please have plenty of fun with tremendous dignity once you have built up a sound career, which hardly comes easily.
YOUR DAD IS HUNDRED PERCENT RIGHT WHAT HE HAS BEEN TELLING YOU TO DO AND GO BY HIS GUIDANCE AND ADVICE.DON'T TAKE IT FOR GRANTED THAT A MIRACLE WILL JUST HAPPEN SUDDENLY BY GIVING SECOND PREFERENCE TO STUDIES.
I AM GOLD MEDALIST OF A TOP GRADE UNIVERSITY.

I KNOW HOW IT FEELS NOW. ALSO, I KNOW HAD IT NOT BEEN SO, MY LIFE COULD HAVE TAKEN A DIFFERENT COURSE, FULL OF UNCERTAINTY AND WITHOUT ANY DIGNITY .......AND QUESTION OF GLOW IN LIFE DOES NOT ARISE IN THE ABSENCE OF WHAT YOUR DAD SAID.
BUT, ACCEPT THIS AS A WAY OF LIFE ...i.e., PUTTING IN ALL YOUR EFFORTS ON STUDY.
EVERYONE NEEDS SOME BIT OF RECREATION. YOU HAVE TO ADJUST YOUR DAILY ROUTINE IN SUCH A WAY THAT RECREATION OF ANY KIND TAKES A BACK SEAT AT THIS STAGE.THERE SHOULD NOT BE ANY WILD RECREATION AT THIS STAGE.
YOU WILL REAP THE HARVEST LATER ON .
WISH YOU BEST OF LUCK
GOD BLESS