A questioner expresses her dilemma of being a studious, workaholic perfectionist who feels she is missing out on a 'practical life' involving friends and enjoyment. When she tries to enjoy life, she feels she should be working, and when she is working, she feels she should be enjoying life, leaving her in a constant state of conflict. Acharya Prashant responds by first affirming that having work one can immerse oneself in is one of the great fortunes of life and that this affection for one's work should not be changed. He explains that the problem is not her dedication to work but her definition of 'practical life'. He points out that finding the right kind of human company is largely a matter of chance and luck, as high-quality people are rare. Therefore, one should not perpetually wait for or insist on having such human company. Instead, he suggests that there are other, equally practical and effective ways to find uplifting company and enrich one's life. These alternatives include engaging with good books, art, literature, ideas, and travel. He describes these as every bit as practical as being with a person in the flesh. He notes that unlike people, who can be unpredictable, books do not change or lie. While not undermining the importance of human companionship, he advises that if it is not available, one should not sit and brood over its absence. Instead, one should add value to life through the means available, such as books and art, which provide their own form of enriching and uplifting company.