Why is programming important? This is slightly subjective, but I think there are three reasons that programming is important, three major aspects. First, let us get the lucrative aspect of the situation out of the way. Programming is a great skill to have in today’s market. In today’s world, we are surrounded my machines and automation. Our daily lives depend on them, so to have people who can make them work is crucial. And well paid for. The fact that not everyone can be a good programmer, further compounds this point. And even if we accept that everyone, given the effort, can be a decent programmer, few can make their code “sing”, which means further coming up with ideas that materialize into programming achievements that make this highly technological world shine. The same way that some scientists discover new things and shed light in previously dark areas of the undiscovered world around us. The same way that some artists tap to creative veins and rise above the rest, with great works of music, film, literature, poetry etc. The great thing about this, is that you do not have to belong exclusively in the area of Computing Sciences. Everyone can benefit by having programming in their CV, both in pay, and in actual skill. I say, widen your skillset – when you can! And let Liam Neeson ramble on about his “particular skillset”. Second aspect, would be “funnelling”. What is “funnelling”? It is getting that excess mental energy into the activity of programming, to bring us into a state of mental equilibrium. The same way we want to do something physical from time to time to help us feel, to enable us to stretch that miraculous human nature to as many of its boundaries as possible. It is a natural need, similar to that of self-preservation. We feel hungry for music. Do you not ever feel that good music is like being fed through your ears, leaving you with feelings of satisfaction and contentment? How about the need to be informed? See things, touch things. The need to kick a football, to shoot a hoop, or to dance. To sing in the shower (no I do not do that, but even if I did, I would never admit to it). When I was a kid and programming came into our households, I remember thinking very clearly that this is something that was missing, and finally falling as a puzzle piece neatly into my life. I could see myself spending a lot of time with it, even though at that point I had never laid touch to a keyboard before. An activity seemingly similar to others before it, but really, one that is nothing like anything else. I really feel very grateful for its inception, and I am very glad to see like-minded people getting drawn to it, with a great deal of inevitability. Finally, much like mathematics, programming teaches you how to think. Ancient Greeks were very certain about mathematics for that particular property, so they taught it not only as a science, but as a way to teach people to think. Programming shares this quality with maths. I believe it may potentially be a higher mental challenge, but in teaching you how to think, they are equal, although in slightly different ways. With maths you learn to see the world around you in a different, more structured way. Programming also does that, but gives you more tools to work with to reshape that world. If maths are like binoculars enabling one to step back and observe this world, programming is like a kaleidoscope.