Or how to rock it like Einstein.
Many years ago, I read an article in the New York Times (NYT) by Phyllis Korkki, The Science of Older and Wiser that provided a scientific, yet personal foray into the location of where wisdom resides. The article addressed the levels of importance between the speed with which information is retrieved from one’s mind versus a life filled with meaning, contentment, and acceptance. Stay with me, folks, things are gonna get really interesting very soon.
Speedy retrieval of information appears to belong to the younger set, rather than those of us associated with the Baby Boomer generation or older. For those of us of a certain age, like yours truly (aged 67), speedy information retrieval lags a bit because it takes longer for us to tap into our data-filled minds. It stands to reason that because we’ve lived longer, we have far more information stored in our noggins so getting to it just may not be as easy to do as it was before we loaded it up with years and years’ worth of data.
But the good news is that once said information is retrieved, we tend to use it to gain insights and perspectives that form the basis for our wise behaviour and decisions.
I just have to ask, must everything in our lives function at breakneck speed? Consider these synonyms for the words fast or quick:
We live in such a fast-paced world that we find ourselves snapping our fingers and impatiently tapping our foot at how long it takes to make an instant K-Cup (pod) of coffee or tea. What’s taking so long? We will even pay extra when traveling by plane in order to gain the privilege of getting through the airport security lane faster, and we’ll purchase annual subscriptions on product sites to receive “free” expedited shipping.
But when it comes to reflective contemplation, is faster always better?
Consider these definitions of wisdom provided in the above-referenced NY Times article:
Given the synonyms for the words fast and the characterizations for the quality known as wisdom, let’s discern what is our most advisable main focus as we continue to move through life’s various stages of ageing. The aforementioned NY Times columnist stated,
Most psychologists agree that if you define wisdom as maintaining positive well-being and kindness in the face of challenges, it is one of the most important qualities one can possess to age successfully.
Aha! Isn’t that absolutely wonderful? We age successfully when we behave in such a way as to handle the crises that come our way with grace and aplomb. And the only way to pull that characteristic off is to have lived long enough to have gained wisdom and knowledge that adequately paves the way for us, effectively chipping away speed humps and potholes that litter the road in front of us.
As a parent of three adult daughters and a grandparent of two grandchildren (3.75 years of age and 5 months of age), I am always thrilled when my length of years provides guidance and direction where our family is concerned. I guess the been there, done that philosophy kicks in when situations arise requiring a bit of finesse. You see, I made so many mistakes in my earlier years, I am now able to apply the lessons I learned from those mistakes to benefit others so they can avoid that same mistake-ridden road! As a matter of fact, I made so many mistakes in the past from which I learned so very much, I made a commitment long ago to make even more mistakes in anticipation of the wealth of knowledge I would gain in the process! That twisted bit of logic may not work for you, but it has greatly benefited me!
Let’s face it, when life is easy – virtually bereft of challenges – the well of wisdom need not be inordinately deep in order to make our way through the ins and outs of any given day. But when life is far from perfect – as is the case for most of us – a heaping serving of wisdom will save the day, time and time again. And by all means, let’s not fall into the habit of not learning from our mistakes. The following quote, attributed to Albert Einstein, says enough about that type of behaviour to challenge even the most stubborn of us:
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.
Applying wisdom gained and earned over many years of living helps us avoid insanity and makes each of us brilliant practitioners of mind-boggling intelligence, as was the case for Mr. Einstein. Something tells me that this well-renowned physicist didn’t come up with the database for his famous formula E=mc2 in a high-speed, expressly swift and immediate manner. Instead, he mined the recesses of his brain to come up with what is considered to be the world’s most famous equation. When he died in 1955 (two years after I was born) I’m pretty sure he didn’t bemoan the fact that he should have been quicker on his feet regarding all things having to do with knowledge and intelligence. No, I’m pretty sure he was well-pleased with how he managed to make an impact on the world at large, going at a pace most appropriate in any given situation.
This scientific fellow was quite the philosopher as well, dropping word-bombs and phrases that far outlived him and are still quoted today. I’ll leave you with two of his quotes that really knocked my socks off, gave me pause, and greatly helped me appreciate the wisdom he acquired in his numerous decades of life.
Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe. (You crack me up, Albert!)
If you can’t explain it to a six-year-old, you don’t understand it yourself. (Understanding comes with wisdom, not quick thinking, right?)
So there, I may have taken you on a wild goose chase with my roundabout way of touting wisdom over speedy information retrieval, but I hope I’ve convinced you of one thing: the ups and downs of your life matter; you matter; and what you have to offer those in your age category and younger is valuable beyond all measure. The next time you get down on yourself for not being able to come up with a word, a phone number, or a memory at the snap of a finger, just remember all the database filing cabinets you needed to search through in your efforts to put your finger on that tidbit of information. And please congratulate yourself for getting to where you are now. Life certainly ain’t no cake walk, but the wisdom you have to offer has made it appear to be a breeze.
You’ve got this my friends…and don’t you forget it!
Speedy retrieval of information appears to belong to the younger set, rather than those of us associated with the Baby Boomer generation or older. For those of us of a certain age, like yours truly (aged 67), speedy information retrieval lags a bit because it takes longer for us to tap into our data-filled minds. It stands to reason that because we’ve lived longer, we have far more information stored in our noggins so getting to it just may not be as easy to do as it was before we loaded it up with years and years’ worth of data.
But the good news is that once said information is retrieved, we tend to use it to gain insights and perspectives that form the basis for our wise behaviour and decisions.
I just have to ask, must everything in our lives function at breakneck speed? Consider these synonyms for the words fast or quick:
- speedy
- swift
- express
- high-speed
- immediate
- expeditious
- brisk
- hasty (haste makes waste, doesn’t it?)
We live in such a fast-paced world that we find ourselves snapping our fingers and impatiently tapping our foot at how long it takes to make an instant K-Cup (pod) of coffee or tea. What’s taking so long? We will even pay extra when traveling by plane in order to gain the privilege of getting through the airport security lane faster, and we’ll purchase annual subscriptions on product sites to receive “free” expedited shipping.
But when it comes to reflective contemplation, is faster always better?
Consider these definitions of wisdom provided in the above-referenced NY Times article:
- “True wisdom involves recognizing the negative both within and outside ourselves and trying to learn from it.”
- If you are wise, “You’re not focusing so much on what you need and deserve, but on what you can contribute.”
- An important sign of wisdom is generativity, which means “giving back without needing anything in return.”
Given the synonyms for the words fast and the characterizations for the quality known as wisdom, let’s discern what is our most advisable main focus as we continue to move through life’s various stages of ageing. The aforementioned NY Times columnist stated,
Most psychologists agree that if you define wisdom as maintaining positive well-being and kindness in the face of challenges, it is one of the most important qualities one can possess to age successfully.
Aha! Isn’t that absolutely wonderful? We age successfully when we behave in such a way as to handle the crises that come our way with grace and aplomb. And the only way to pull that characteristic off is to have lived long enough to have gained wisdom and knowledge that adequately paves the way for us, effectively chipping away speed humps and potholes that litter the road in front of us.
As a parent of three adult daughters and a grandparent of two grandchildren (3.75 years of age and 5 months of age), I am always thrilled when my length of years provides guidance and direction where our family is concerned. I guess the been there, done that philosophy kicks in when situations arise requiring a bit of finesse. You see, I made so many mistakes in my earlier years, I am now able to apply the lessons I learned from those mistakes to benefit others so they can avoid that same mistake-ridden road! As a matter of fact, I made so many mistakes in the past from which I learned so very much, I made a commitment long ago to make even more mistakes in anticipation of the wealth of knowledge I would gain in the process! That twisted bit of logic may not work for you, but it has greatly benefited me!
Let’s face it, when life is easy – virtually bereft of challenges – the well of wisdom need not be inordinately deep in order to make our way through the ins and outs of any given day. But when life is far from perfect – as is the case for most of us – a heaping serving of wisdom will save the day, time and time again. And by all means, let’s not fall into the habit of not learning from our mistakes. The following quote, attributed to Albert Einstein, says enough about that type of behaviour to challenge even the most stubborn of us:
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.
Applying wisdom gained and earned over many years of living helps us avoid insanity and makes each of us brilliant practitioners of mind-boggling intelligence, as was the case for Mr. Einstein. Something tells me that this well-renowned physicist didn’t come up with the database for his famous formula E=mc2 in a high-speed, expressly swift and immediate manner. Instead, he mined the recesses of his brain to come up with what is considered to be the world’s most famous equation. When he died in 1955 (two years after I was born) I’m pretty sure he didn’t bemoan the fact that he should have been quicker on his feet regarding all things having to do with knowledge and intelligence. No, I’m pretty sure he was well-pleased with how he managed to make an impact on the world at large, going at a pace most appropriate in any given situation.
This scientific fellow was quite the philosopher as well, dropping word-bombs and phrases that far outlived him and are still quoted today. I’ll leave you with two of his quotes that really knocked my socks off, gave me pause, and greatly helped me appreciate the wisdom he acquired in his numerous decades of life.
Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe. (You crack me up, Albert!)
If you can’t explain it to a six-year-old, you don’t understand it yourself. (Understanding comes with wisdom, not quick thinking, right?)
So there, I may have taken you on a wild goose chase with my roundabout way of touting wisdom over speedy information retrieval, but I hope I’ve convinced you of one thing: the ups and downs of your life matter; you matter; and what you have to offer those in your age category and younger is valuable beyond all measure. The next time you get down on yourself for not being able to come up with a word, a phone number, or a memory at the snap of a finger, just remember all the database filing cabinets you needed to search through in your efforts to put your finger on that tidbit of information. And please congratulate yourself for getting to where you are now. Life certainly ain’t no cake walk, but the wisdom you have to offer has made it appear to be a breeze.
You’ve got this my friends…and don’t you forget it!
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Irene Frances Olson
Author of Requiem for the status quo, a novel that celebrates and encourages family caregivers of those with Alzheimer’s or other dementia. You can find that book HERE. Ms. Olson is a member of AlzAuthors, www.alzauthors.com, a compendium of authors who have all been affected by Alzheimer's disease and other dementia. These authors share their experiences to bring knowledge, comfort and understanding to those on a similar journey. AlzAuthors was recently recognized as a United States tax-exempt organization. |
