There is a small story which someone told me when I was small. This story explained to me the importance of learning in life. When the famous saint Socrates was supposed to be hanged, previous night to that the jailor came to him. He asked if he had any last wish. So Socrate expressed a desire to learn flute. The jailor was very surprised and started laughing. He said that you should have asked to eat something special or meet someone or something important. Why you want to learn flute when you are dying next morning. Socrates smiled and replied, when I would meet God, I would tell him, that I did not waste even one night of the precious life given by you. I was learning till the last night.
This story explained me the importance of learning and we shall learn even till the last day of life.
Now, let’s understand why it is important to learn? First thing if it was not important we would not have so many schools and they all are ever growing. Deep down we all want our children to learn and grow. Exactly, learning helps us in growing and becoming better. But the question is, why most of us stop this process after a certain age? When that compulsion is lifted from our lives? Why we stop learning which means we stop growing too. I remember once talking to a gentleman, who was awarded for his success in business. He was from a background we call as slums. So I asked him, what brought this to him? He said that when he was small, he learned that only way he could grow out of his condition of life is by learning more and more. So he took his school very seriously and kept learning whatever he could. So he learned new skills, new ways of working, new things and he also learned how to match few things. That is how he kept growing and eventually he became very successful.
I know there are many virtues to be followed like honesty, speaking truth, kindness, compassion etc. However, I feel learning also should be taught as a virtue because this will guide us to a better future and better us.
