It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking your only really learning if its something you would have or could have learned in school. People consider learning computer languages, mathematics and other skills as educations because they're something you probably started learning in school.

The truth is that most of our true education happens outside the realm of the classroom. I had the standard educational mindset until I tried to learn to play the guitar. I had bought a book online and sat there with my guitar and tried to learn my chords and notes. I assumed it would be easy and after several weeks of trying and failing, I took the guitar to the local music store to figure what was wrong with it.

It couldn't have been me. When he looked at it and then started playing real music from, I realized I needed to change my mindset. I stopped treating the guitar like it was something simple task and used the book as a true educational tool. I actually read it and practiced and practiced and practiced.

I'm still not a guitar virtuoso and I have a library of books on the art of the guitar. The definition of education is simply to learn. It doesn't matter if you're learning about home repair or astrophysics. An education is an education, end of story. When you want to learn something, don't decide based on academic thinking. Base is on what you want to do and then find the perfect book or group of books to learn.