I think some of us older folk assume we are wiser than the younger ones , just by number of years. But I'd like to challenge that notion here.
Different stages of life, different insights, different wisdoms.
Me aged 10- life was awesome, my older brothers were awesome, football and cricket heroes awesome. Teachers awesome. Sydney awesome. So much awe. The whole world was fresh. I had an unconscious awareness of God. I saw beauty in everyone pretty much, even that could be viewed as naivety now. I remember now being totally gobsmacked by my first visit to a "Show". I lived in a country town and "The Show" came once a year. I remember the awe of merry-go rounds, shooting stalls, Ferris wheel, boxing tents with a showman shouting at the front, fairy floss, smell of "hot dogs" in batter, and the ultimate go kart track. Watching teenagers get in those go karts, me full of envy and yes that word again, "awe".
In my mid-twenties.Parents still alive but being preoccupied with work worries of being competent enough but still a great love of family and really enjoying those family reunions. I think I had a certain wisdom then of the body. My body and physical health was at its peak. Music and exercise allowed me to experience natural highs without drugs. I felt I had an insight, transcendant moments, glimpses of Heaven then; something I don't feel easily now. I was still naïve but when I felt stressed, I'd just go for a 10 km run and I was high as a kite.
Now. I'm world weary. I'm ready to focus on other things besides ambition,success, all worldly pursuits. My wisdom is born of experience. Experience taught me that happiness is right in front of my nose. That happiness is more about shedding things than accumulating them. Time to stop taking myself so seriously. Time to take this "eternal life" stuff very seriously.
Different stages of life, different insights, different wisdoms.
Me aged 10- life was awesome, my older brothers were awesome, football and cricket heroes awesome. Teachers awesome. Sydney awesome. So much awe. The whole world was fresh. I had an unconscious awareness of God. I saw beauty in everyone pretty much, even that could be viewed as naivety now. I remember now being totally gobsmacked by my first visit to a "Show". I lived in a country town and "The Show" came once a year. I remember the awe of merry-go rounds, shooting stalls, Ferris wheel, boxing tents with a showman shouting at the front, fairy floss, smell of "hot dogs" in batter, and the ultimate go kart track. Watching teenagers get in those go karts, me full of envy and yes that word again, "awe".
In my mid-twenties.Parents still alive but being preoccupied with work worries of being competent enough but still a great love of family and really enjoying those family reunions. I think I had a certain wisdom then of the body. My body and physical health was at its peak. Music and exercise allowed me to experience natural highs without drugs. I felt I had an insight, transcendant moments, glimpses of Heaven then; something I don't feel easily now. I was still naïve but when I felt stressed, I'd just go for a 10 km run and I was high as a kite.
Now. I'm world weary. I'm ready to focus on other things besides ambition,success, all worldly pursuits. My wisdom is born of experience. Experience taught me that happiness is right in front of my nose. That happiness is more about shedding things than accumulating them. Time to stop taking myself so seriously. Time to take this "eternal life" stuff very seriously.