The act of writing is an act of optimism. You would not take the trouble to do it if you felt it didn't matter.
I used to walk down the street like I was a star... I want people to walk around delusional about how great they can be - and then to fight so hard for it every day that the lie becomes the truth.
Lisp is worth learning for the profound enlightenment experience you will have when you finally get it; that experience will make you a better programmer for the rest of your days, even if you never actually use Lisp itself a lot.
Success is not just about what you accomplish in your life, it's about what you inspire others to do.