Wisdom of Age

I touched on this topic in “Hangin’ With the Band” but wanted to delve a little deeper into how the wisdom of age can benefit us if we listen to it. That last bit is the difference between learning from life versus stumbling along making the same mistakes over and over again.

      As we age, we gather knowledge that we can use to adjust our actions and words for better outcomes. The wisdom part comes from applying that knowledge in conjunction with realistically assessing our abilities – physical and mental – as the years pile up. Admitting that at 50 we don’t have the same mental and physical acuity that we had at 25 can be tough, but being honest with yourself will open doors that didn’t exist at 25. For instance, I never would have considered writing like this at 25; not even at 45.

      With age comes the wisdom to listen to our inner voice and to what our bodies are telling us, as it takes longer to recover from strenuous activities. Taking a break when shoveling snow or stacking wood becomes a way to re-charge instead of an admission of being tired. That kind of change in perspective is key to using the knowledge we’ve acquired over time to our advantage.

      It’s not just about the physical aspect though. Learning to not sweat the small stuff and to take setbacks more in stride is a skill only accessed through experience. We develop a different mindset and start to look for the silver lining in that cloud pouring rain down on us. This creates a less stressful existence for us and those around us. This is a tough one to master and it’s certainly not a strong point of mine yet, but I am getting better at it – albeit slowly.

      As perspective shifts, giving up control of projects or activities so others can learn and grow becomes more important than getting our way. Acting as an advisor and offering guidance and support allows us to use the wisdom we have gathered for the benefit of others. Listening and asking guiding questions instead of directing is another way we can use our experience to drive growth in others and produce positive outcomes. By taking this approach you may just learn something yourself – bonus.

      One thing is certain, we are all going to get older so we might as well use what we learn along the way to make life better for us and others. Wisdom in itself is great, but if you don’t use it and share it, you are not making the most of the life you’ve lived.    

            www.RetiredandInspiredat55.com  03-31-2025