dawdling in this world

I consider learning something like a foreign language to be a form of enjoyment, and irresponsible enjoyment because I don't make it my profession. My late mother sometimes sighed and asked me what I was studying it for.

'Why do you devote yourself to something that doesn't earn you a penny?'

I felt as if I was being denied my whole life. Because my interests are always kind of 'formless' and 'not practical' things like art. My parents were always disappointed that I didn't have a specialisation that could be converted into a lot of money. I don't want to sound like I lose all my hopes in the world, but if life would be about killing time until I die, I'm pretty sure there's no shortage of dawdling away my time.

By the way, which language do you think is the best for learning a new language? So far, I have learnt English, Chinese and sign language. They all went up to intermediate level, but I've forgotten all but English because I don't use them. Learning a language that is different from my mother tongue is a joy, because I feel discovering new places in my brain.