# Greetings, scholar! I am speaking to anyone who will listen, but I'm especially speaking to you: the curious one, rejoicing whenever there is a pile of books, an insightful conversation, an exciting observation, or the spark of a new idea. Whether by arduous journey or cosmic accident, you have arrived here, and it is not a mistake. There are two reasons. **The first: Learning is a joy to you**, and is valuable and pleasurable for its own sake. Beyond survival, ambition, and the endless quest for self-improvement, there is a beautiful, rich world for us to explore, discover, and appreciate. **The second: Life is one great choose-your-own-adventure mystery**, and you are both its reader, its writer, and its protagonist—one of the great many readers, writers, and protagonists that belong here together. If you listen very closely, you will hear that Life is speaking to you. It is always speaking to you, even now. **Learning is a powerful skill** that not only helps you listen and discern what Life is saying, but also expands the range of possible choices you get to make as you live it. There are many decisions to make. You have exactly what you need to make them. **Your first decision is whether or not to listen to your Life.** Life is calling...do you hear it? Care to listen? [YES](1a%20Listen.md) | [NO](1b%20Do%20Not%20Listen.md) | [WHAT IS THIS?](About%20The%20Self-Taught%20Life.md)