Wisdom is Everywhere

When I was young I thought wise people were the quiet ones. They were the ones who knew it all and so didn't say anything at all. They just sat there Yoda-like and every now and then would grunt their approval. Or they would give you that knowing nod or smirky grin when you did something correctly. I also thought wisdom was only found in older people or people with accents, or lots of initials after their names, or people who wore polo shirts, or hippies, or preppies, or poets and professors.

Maya Angelou

I saw wisdom over there, but not in me. I knew I was smart and I started seeking wisdom so I too could be wise. And I was damned determined to find it. Every time I saw a gray hair on my temple I was certain wisdom was soon to follow. For years I would read and seek out quotes on wisdom: Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you would have preferred to talk. ~Doug Larson. Good one! And that shut me up for a week. I started to notice that wisdom was everywhere and could be had over a lunch break (One Minute Wisdom - Anthony De Mello) or seen in the eyes of the kid bumming coins outside of a KFC or in the precious inquiries of a 5 year old.



They say children are wise. Maybe it's because they haven't got any baggage in the way yet...so they speak with such clarity of being in the moment. Liz Strauss says 'Children have a way of humbling us all and teaching us too - if we let them. They’re authentic. Rare is the child before the age of 8 who has a hidden agenda or who has learned to be truly mean or arrogant. They know about love and showing their feelings. They know about taking joy from their accomplishments.'

And for wisdom of the elders I checked out Andrew Zuckerman's Wisdom Book (click here to see video) with Archbishop Desmond Tutu and a whole bunch of famous old people with really good things to say. I delight in their contributions and what I gain from their generous sharing.

Jacques Pepin

Once I stopped looking for it, I saw wisdom everywhere; old folks, young folks, plain folks and folksy folks. Now I just look at my grey templed self and see I am wise enough to know there is much more to learn.