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Historically, younger generations have tended to seek out their elders for "wisdom." The theory goes that with more life experience, that an older adult will have more resources to draw upon from which to make a decision, and make a more competent decision.
As you've aged, do you think that your increased life experience leads to you making better decisions? Are you better able to advise people now, as a senior, than you would have been as a middle-aged or younger person? Do you feel any "wiser" or "more seasoned," as opposed to simply "more knowledgeable?"
I've only gained experiences with age. Knowledge, wisdom - those gains are only relative to my personal life and not as advice to others. I don't truly know anyone else's life, so it doesn't matter what I've learned in my life because it may not fit someone else's.
I believe the wisdom I have gained is in dealing with inter-personal relationships. I am now more patient and know how to detach myself from an emotional event and still be loving. I am more willing to respect the space we all deserve and need and not get offended or hurt when I run smack against a boundary. A lot of these I realize are self protection mechanism against hurt and angry feelings. I am much happier, not elated, but in contented kind of way.
I'm wise about the things I know and not wise about the things I don't know. When confronted with new decisions I can be just as bad at making choices at age 70 as I was at age 20.
I know to cut out the BS sooner. I still don't have a lot of patience for lots of things. Wiser? Compare to my kids, yes, to anyone, who knows and don't really care. I don't seek to influence anybody.
When you have seen the same patterns many times before and you learn cause and effect, you are better able to predict what will happen next. I want that surgeon who has done the procedure thousands of times before he does mine.
Just think about driving. When you started at age 16, that guy who ran the red light while you were trying to do a left turn probably surprised you. Now, 30 years later, as an experienced driver, you learn to expect it.
Every time I get on an airplane, I look at the pilot. I want to see grey or white hair. Think about Sully. That guy was able to safely put the plane down on the Hudson because he had practiced it over and over.
I would say I'm much wiser now at 62 than I was in my 20's. For instance certain personality traits in a man or friend that I would have overlooked in my 20's I would never put up with now. With age comes experience, which sometimes to leads to wisdom. We are more aware of consequences for poor behavior or decisions.
I wish I could return to my 20's with the experience and knowledge I have now. I would have made a lot of different choices.
I believe it's about impossible to not have more wisdom from aging from if not anything else but the mere life experiences. But just because you or I may have more doesn't necessarily mean we're able to put it to good use. Just a proposition.
For example, you've heard the saying when someone talks about someone they know and says how so-and-so is very intelligent but he has no common sense.
Might that also be true for wisdom with so-and-so (i.e. you or me) having great wisdom but not having any common sense?
Location: Finally the house is done and we are in Port St. Lucie!
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Is wisdom knowledge that we have gleaned by actually learning from our mistakes? If so, dang I am wise!
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