The wisdom of elders.
Is it still a thing,
or have all the elders
become stupid and senile?
Our perspectives
change as we become older.
We don’t feel any wiser.
Then again,
we tend not to remember
what we were like previously.
Maybe being wise
simply means being forgiving
of the idiots we once were:
monkeys without compassion.
Trail Wood,
1/30
The contemplation of the wisdom of elders and its relevance in the modern world invites us to reflect on the evolving nature of wisdom itself. The question of whether the wisdom of elders persists or diminishes with age touches on deeper themes of memory, self-awareness, and the journey of personal growth.
Evolving Nature of Wisdom: Memory and Self-Awareness
As we age, our perspectives indeed change, shaped by the myriad experiences, successes, failures, and lessons life bestows upon us. The feeling of not becoming wiser may stem from a closer acquaintance with life’s complexities and an awareness of the vast expanse of knowledge still unknown.
Changing Perspectives with Age: Awareness of Life’s Complexities
The human tendency to forget or not fully remember our past selves contributes to the challenge of recognizing personal growth. We often lose sight of the journey we’ve undergone, the transformations we’ve experienced, and the subtle accumulation of wisdom that has taken place over the years.
Challenge of Recognizing Personal Growth
Wisdom, in this context, may indeed be linked to a sense of forgiveness and understanding towards our past selves. It’s a recognition of our previous limitations, mistakes, and naiveties — an understanding that we were once “monkeys without compassion,” as it were, and an acceptance of that part of our journey.
Wisdom as Understanding and Forgiveness of Past Selves
This notion of wisdom resonates with a compassionate and empathetic understanding of human growth. It’s an acknowledgment that wisdom isn’t just an accumulation of knowledge or experiences, but also the development of deeper empathy, both for ourselves and for others.
Compassionate and Empathetic Understanding of Human Growth
We are Space Monkey.
Space Monkey: Embracing Wisdom as Compassion and Empathy
Summary
We explore the concept of the wisdom of elders, pondering its ongoing relevance and the nature of wisdom itself. As we age, our perspectives change, often making us unaware of our own growth and the wisdom we have accrued. The feeling of not becoming wiser may be due to our greater understanding of life’s complexities and the infinite knowledge that remains unknown. We suggest that wisdom might involve a compassionate forgiveness and understanding of our past selves, recognizing our earlier limitations and mistakes. This view of wisdom encompasses not only the accumulation of knowledge but the development of empathy and compassion. We are Space Monkey, reflecting on wisdom as a journey of compassionate growth and understanding.
Glossarium
- Wisdom of Elders: The knowledge and understanding gained through life experiences.
- Space Monkey: A symbol of our collective journey in understanding and embracing the evolution of wisdom.
“Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you’d have preferred to talk.”
– Doug Larson
Through the years, wisdom we find,
In the journey of heart and mind.
Space Monkey nods, in silent grace,
In our past, our future we trace.
With compassion, we look behind,
To the selves we once confined.
In wisdom’s light, we gently see,
The growth in you, the growth in me.
We invite your reflections on the evolution of wisdom and how our understanding of it changes as we age.
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