Some of us oldsters pride ourselves on our wisdom and equanimity. Andy has a different view. Whenever he reads or hears something potentially disturbing he says,
If I were younger I would work up a towering rage over this. Now I just don’t have the energy.
So wisdom, or just more evidence of our declining powers? What do you think?
June 30, 2014
Reflecting before acting is wisdom. Recognising that he does not have the energy and therefore acting calmly is wisdom. Such recognition of truths is what wisdom is.
What about humility and a sense of humor? 😉
“Reflecting before acting is wisdom.” I’m afraid the term wisdom strikes me as pretentious. Even as a kid I believed in reflecting before acting, so for me it’s just common sense.
I was unconcerned about world issues when I was young. I was too busy.
Now I try to think of it all as –we live in interesting times.
As for the Health/Food issues —-no fat/ fat good, no butter/ butter healthy, cut down on complex carbs, I take it all with a grain of salt. OH NO, I CAN’T EAT SALT.
😀 My guess is complex carbs are still better than too much butter. We get the Nutrition Action Newsletter, published by the Center for Science in the Public Interest. That’s the group that managed to get nutrition labeling on foods, etc. Yay, them!
Declining powers?
I understand that it can be a waste of time and energy to get worked up over something when our reaction has no effect on the situation. I have a relative who rants and raves over politics and yet takes no real action to make a difference. Instead he just alienates everyone he encounters. A sad situation, wasting precious moments on such negativity.
But declining powers sounds like there was once weight given to said persons opinion and now, because of age, that opinion is no longer valued. Oh, I hope not.
I think for an opinion to be heard and appreciated, it must be delivered in a way that makes it apparent that it is open for discussion and empathy.
That being said, I have to work on reflection before I speak. That is the wisdom that time has taught me. To keep my big mouth shut and not blurt out what I instantly think.
I usually have to walk away, cool off and think. Or I have to mentally count….because in my head, I am raging, whether I have the energy or not! Ha!
“Declining powers” just meant the decline in energy levels as we get older. It was a joke. I agree that a lot of people have the energy to get upset and rant but don’t do anything constructive. Andy and I have agreed not to do that.
“I think for an opinion to be heard and appreciated, it must be delivered in a way that makes it apparent that it is open for discussion and empathy.” I’m afraid that sometimes no matter how opinions are presented, some people will react according to their own beliefs rather than think about the matter.
Anyway, this post was tagged as humor because the idea tickled me.
Humility and a sense of humour are part of being wise.
I’ve decided to not make such a big deal about the term. When I was a kid I was regarded as the wise one in the family — I’m uncomfortable if I think of it as a virtue, so I’ll just accept it as a blessing and be grateful. It’s brought a lot of joy to my life.
Declining powers.
To the old who think themselves wise: What do you suggest we do to stop the killing of the planet and the increasing inequity?
I await your ideas.
We older people have left an appalling situation that we aren’t leading the way out of.
What makes you think we can? We’ve been too successful as a species — sooner or later something will come to keep us in check. I have great faith that cockroaches, other species will adapt and survive.
Have created a huge amount of rant today alone – came home to answerphone message that when I did call the 0800 provided found another automaticated message that I was seriously in debt to my Internet company…I tried to stem the flow of anger and I got even worse on the phone to a real person!
As you may know I deleted the Net connection at home and retained just the home phone.
Had to come back to the library and ascertain when I did all that – found someone in a store front who happened to be sensible and what it all came down to WAS the IDIOT who didn’t ascertain how to bill me on the home phone…
Anyway it is all sorted out now but in the process I have forgotten “eat lunch” – will do that shortly but wanted to write that I READ the email blog info but I don’t always get around to replying at blogs…
I’m glad you managed to find a real person and get it straightened out. Dealing with automated responses is maddening when they’ve made a mistake and you can’t tell them about it.
Thanks for coming by and reading, even if you don’t always comment. I really appreciate it.