#178: This is where you stop.

Hello from Nairobi,

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to be valuable.
Not in the economic sense — not about productivity or achievement — but in the way we show up, contribute, and keep growing through our everyday choices.

To be valuable, we have to pause.
To stop, reflect, and ask:
“Am I adding meaning to what I do?”
“Am I learning something that helps me and others live better?”

Sometimes, the most valuable thing we can do is to begin again — with more clarity, more intention, and more heart.

When Our Journey Began

Our journey toward this realization started back in 2020, when we decided to quit traditional schooling and step into the unknown.

It began small — a few short trips, spontaneous learning moments, long conversations with people who were questioning the same things we were.
Each experience added a new layer of understanding.
Each encounter opened a door we didn’t even know existed.

One thing led to another, and we never stopped exploring.

We met people across India doing extraordinary experiments in learning and living — educators building self-directed communities, families learning through travel, young people designing their own projects instead of waiting for permission.

All of them had one thing in common: they were creating value through curiosity.

That inspired us to start sharing our own story — not because we had answers, but because we wanted others to believe in the joy of finding their own way.

Learning and Living: The Balance We’re All Searching For

In many ways, this is what our world is waking up to.

People everywhere are trying to find balance — between learning and living, working and being, achieving and resting.

Isn’t that why so many professionals are turning to remote work?
Why parents are exploring homeschooling or unschooling?
Why young people are building skills outside the system instead of waiting for a degree?
Why so many of us are reflecting on our purpose and redefining what “success” means?

It’s all connected.

We’re all part of this quiet revolution — one that values meaning over metrics, learning over labels, growth over grades.

Why I Started EducationNext

When I started EducationNext, it wasn’t just to write about alternative education.
It was to capture these living stories — people, families, and communities creating their own paths of learning and purpose.

Every story reminded me that education isn’t something that happens to us; it’s something we shape every day.

The more I saw, the more I realized that adding value doesn’t mean doing more.
It means doing what matters — with awareness, empathy, and curiosity.

The story of parents who travel the world

This story is from our travels, that you might like to read:

Naval Ravikant’s take on education always resonates with me

A Gentle Reminder

So, if you’re feeling lost or unsure where you’re headed, pause.
You don’t need to have everything figured out.

That’s what I am doing.

Stop. Reflect. Begin again.

Every small step you take toward learning, helping, or creating something meaningful — that’s value.
That’s progress.
And that’s what keeps the world quietly moving forward.

Thank you for being here and walking this path with me. 💛

If you enjoy reflections like this, you can join my weekly newsletter — where I share stories on learning, creativity, and the future of education:
👉 educationnext.beehiiv.com
Priyanka Modi

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About Education Next Newsletter

EducationNext is a collaborative newsletter produced by thought leaders in education, worldschooling, digital nomadism, remote work, and AI.

EducationNext provides insights, updates, and thought-provoking content. The collaborators share their know-how/ do-how, experiences, and insights, making EducationNext the resource for the intersection of education, technology, and mobility - anytime, anywhere.

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