Impractical Things
As I've gotten older I've come to realize how much time I've spent on hobbies or skills that are, largely, impractical. Some of these interests have presented a shallow opportunity for learning, and others have gone much deeper.
Looking back now, the subtle lessons obtained from exploring a wide range of interests is, in many ways, how the world has defined my value. Of course, this only seems clear from my perspective - being able to see all of the time I've wasted perusing interests and skills that won't make me money or make me famous or make me an expert.
Maybe the motivation to pursue impractical interests builds a framework of care and understanding that differs from one that you're graded on, or the one you build when somebody else wants you to do it.