Wisdom and Intergenerational Relationships
The development of wisdom is the heart of any intergenerational relationship. Wise elders serve as guardians for their children and grandchildren. Wise elders show their children how to live by a certain standard, and by doing this they create a society that is happier.
Happiness in our society is imperiled because we have been disconnected from the wisdom of our ancestors who have passed on before us. We are told that it’s impractical to listen to someone who lived 100 years ago because they experienced different times with different values and therefore what they say might be irrelevant or even offensive. But I believe that these elders have much to teach us and by listening to them we can gain valuable knowledge.
Most of us are familiar with the phrase “leadership is an art,” but the truth is, leadership isn’t really an act at all, it’s an attitude. Being a great leader isn’t about becoming perfect; it’s about making every decision with wisdom. Wisdom is the ability to make decisions without knowing all the facts that constitute a decision. It's knowing which things must be done simply because they must be done, and which things can be done because they should be done.
In the book of Proverbs it instructs us to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight paths for you” (Proverbs 3:5-6). This passage teaches us how to make decisions when we don’t have all the answers. It also teaches us that our natural inclination is to try and figure out everything on our own, but that we cannot truly figure out everything on our own so ultimately we must trust in God. The ability to make decisions without knowing all the facts is wisdom.
Many people say that wisdom can only truly be gained by experience, but that isn’t true. Wisdom is a relative concept in that it can be taught to you and you can develop it over time. It is not a product of time nor a product of experience alone but rather a product of knowledge and experience. If you have no knowledge, then it would be impossible to gain wisdom because you would not have reference points from which to make decisions. The type of knowledge I am talking about is knowledge concerning the things we must do because they must be done and the things we do because they should be done. This is a type of knowledge that doesn’t come from experience but rather direct experience.
People often complain that the elderly are difficult to discuss with, but this isn’t true. The elderly have an abundance of story and wisdom to share with us; it is just up to us to listen to them. When we sit down and speak with our elders we will learn so much about them, the places they have been, and the things they have experienced. This should give us all more incentive to pay heed to our elders because if we don’t listen then we might miss out on some essential knowledge.
Another thing that we often complain about our elders is that they are difficult to control. Nobody is completely in control of themselves nor their actions, so why should we expect the elderly to be any different? It is true that some people are easier to control than others and there are some people who are harder to control. The elderly aren’t always easy to control because they have experienced more than most of us and they know much more than most of us so how can you possibly tell them what to do? One way you can tell your elders what to do is by listening and understanding what they have lived through and how it has affected them.
My mother is an example of someone the world would consider to be difficult to control. She is 80 years old and still has the energy of a 20 year old. Her mind is sharp and she doesn’t give anyone a chance to talk her into anything. Recently she decided that she wanted to donate her house and move into a retirement home. I told her how I felt about her decision but she wasn’t listening to me. A few days later I came home and she had completely moved out of her house. Her reasoning for moving is because of her lack of mobility, but in reality she wants to be closer to my brothers and sister so that we can help her with chores. It took me two weeks to listen to her because I felt like what she was doing was just a waste of money, but in the end I listened and understood that what my mother was doing was best for her.
I hope you’ve learned a thing or two from reading this piece on wisdom because it’s vital that we listen to our elders if we want to live in a world that is truly happy and wise.
AUTHOR BIO:
Beverly has worked as a writer and editor for the past two years. She recently graduated with her MFA in Creative Writing from Redeemer University College in Ancaster, Canada. Her work has appeared in Urban Perspectives Magazine, The New England Center for Homeless Veterans, and The Chattanoogan. She works part time as a reference librarian for the Hamilton Public Libraries System while she continues to pursue her passion for creative writing. When she isn’t writing or working Beverly enjoys playing hockey, reading, cooking and spending time with her family. You can read more about her work on http://www.writingsbybeverly2010.blogspot.com
Photo Credit: Beverly
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Choose the Right One: Bamboo and Rubber Rain Boots for Kids Thursday, August 22nd 2012 @ 10:04 am CST Contributed by: Gregory T. Rundlett , Mantra Online Writer There are two types of rain boots for kids that are available to parents to purchase this year. One is the rubber and the other is the bamboo insulated rain boot. You are probably wondering which one is better, and this article will help you make a decision. I'm going to list both the pros and cons of each one to give you a complete picture of what to look for to choose wisely. Rubber Rain Boots for Kids Pros 1. Waterproofs your feet: Rubber is a great material when it comes to waterproofing your feet in the event of rain or snow storms, so if you're out in that kind of weather this boot may be right for you.
Conclusion Rubber Rain Boots for Kids Pros Rubber is a great material when it comes to waterproofing your feet in the event of rain or snow storms, so if you're out in that kind of weather this boot may be right for you. 2. Waterproofs your feet: Rubber is a great material when it comes to waterproofing your feet in the event of rain or snow storms, so if you're out in that kind of weather this boot may be right for you.
Conclusion 1. Waterproofs your feet: Rubber is a great material when it comes to waterproofing your feet in the event of rain or snow storms, so if you're out in that kind of weather this boot may be right for you. Conclusion 2.