Sharing Wisdom

Posted in inspirationTagged , , , ,

“Resolve to be tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant with the weak and wrong. Sometime in your life, you will have been all of these.” – Buddha

This is something I posted on 1/26/2022. Heads up – you may have already read this.

In March of 2001, I trekked to Everest Base Camp with my friends Phil and Sue who were attempting to summit Mt. Everest that year. They had invited a few of their friends to join them on the 30 mile trek in and we’d assembled in Katmandu, Nepal to gather our last few supplies before flying in to the starting point of the trek.

It was on a rickshaw trip around the city, that one of my fellow trekkers that I’d just met, a 59-year-old man told me “Life begins at 40.” Given that I was only 31-years-old at the time, this particular piece of wisdom irked me. Taken literally, it implied that I should just waste the next 9 years.

Over the next few weeks as we were trekking, I found out his back story. He had been married in his early 20’s, had two kids but that marriage had broken down and he was divorced by the time he was in his mid-30’s. It was a contentious divorce and his relationship with his sons suffered.

By the time he was in his 40’s, he’d found success as a business owner, gotten remarried to a woman he adored, and shaped his life to look more or less like the balance of freedom and love he’d always wanted. Hence his statement that life begins at 40.

Why is it so hard to pass wisdom from one human to another? We have to pack it up in a suitcase so that it’s portable and then the recipient needs to have some hooks to hang it on when they unpack it.

In this case, I didn’t think much about the wisdom he’d offered me until I was about to turn 40-years-old. It was a tough time in my life – I’d recently been told of my husband’s infidelities, and I was struggling with the idea of failing at marriage while trying to hold it all together.

While I believe the age was just a coincidence, when I thought back to my fellow trekker’s story, it held a lot of comfort for me. Because it represented an example that life can rebuild itself even better after it’s all fallen apart. The wisdom, when I distilled it for me, was that we can have multiple chapters in our lives that still add up to a glorious story.

Isn’t that why we share our wisdom and stories? So that someone else can take them, draw strength from them when needed and they repackage them in a way that’s meaningful?

On that trip in 2001 to Everest Base Camp, after we’d been trekking for a few days, I woke up one morning a couple of hours before anyone else was up. I was so excited to be in the Himalayas, I decided to hike around to see if I could see Everest in the first light of the day. After about 40 minutes, I finally found a place to sit and watch the sunrise illuminate one of the most distinctive mountains in the world.

When I’d finally hiked back 40 minutes, everyone else was up. One of our guides said, “Does anyone want to get a first look at Everest?” and I joined the group. About a 5 minute walk from our campsite, in the opposite direction I’d gone, was a magnificent view of Everest.

Packaging up this story, I’d pass along this wisdom. “You will take some wrong turns in life, go down the wrong path and expend a lot of extra energy. But even in that case, enjoy the view, laugh about how you got there. Whether you go the short way or whether you go the long way, always look out for the presence of Wonder.”

What’s a piece of wisdom you share?

I’ve posted a related piece about wisdom gleaned during my podcast conversation with playwright and author Jack Canfora in a story about Laurence Olivier on the Wise & Shine blog: Do It Again: The Gift of Having to Repeat Ourselves

(featured photo is mine – a view of Mt. Everest from the Tengboche Monastery. Everest is the one with the snow plume caused by winds from the jet stream.)

45 thoughts on “Sharing Wisdom”

  1. One thought about sharing wisdom, as I think about it. It’s rather like strawberry ice cream. Some people like it. Some don’t. Some prefer vanilla, chocolate, or pistachio.

    Wisdom is a little like that. Try a bite. One person says yuck another smiles and a third will change his mind in 10 years when his body signals his taste has changed.

    Thanks for your essay, Wynne!

    Liked by 5 people

    1. Dr. Stein, I’m smiling and nodding my head at your analogy! I saw so much of my own journey. We don’t always appreciate or relate to a particular piece of wisdom at the time it is given, for it can feel so foreign to what our current reality is, but a few years down the road our realities can change that the piece of wisdom now makes sense. Thank goodness tings don’t stay static, but change allows us to experience new paradigms.

      Liked by 4 people

      1. Well said, Tamara. And as your further the analogy, I see how much wisdom I’ve logged at the time. It’s like I knew it was ice cream and even though I didn’t appreciate it at the time, I put it in that category for re-tasting when I was further down the road.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. I love this! We get a tidbit of knowledge that we can put in our back pocket until we need it.

        Liked by 1 person

  2. Dispensing and receiving wisdom…and having the “hooks” to hang it on. I like that. Some days I have no available hooks whatsoever – no matter how potent the wisdom (or the earnestness of the one delivering). Thanks, Wynne. I like what Tamara and Dr. Stein shared, too. Timing is an issue…and preferences…which sometimes change over time. Good stuff!

    Liked by 3 people

  3. “You will take some wrong turns in life, go down the wrong path and expend a lot of extra energy. But even in that case, enjoy the view, laugh about how you got there. Whether you go the short way or whether you go the long way, always look out for the presence of Wonder.” . . . Amen Wynne!

    I sense most of my life has been spent along wrong-path rabbit trails I’ve chosen to expend energy following before regretfully discovering they were dead-ends. The Wonder . . . when I finally turn around my ever faithful “…beauty for ashes…” Abba always leads me back onto the path towards Home.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Isn’t that the best Wonder – getting put back on the path we need. Even better when we get a glimpse of why its a better path! Thanks for the lovely comment, my fellow traveler! 🙂 ❤

      Like

  4. We are stories. It’s how we learn, love and entertain ourselves. It is through the stories of others that we find a bit of ourselves. And sometimes it takes time, as you discovered. When we’re ready, the story comes to life and we find meaning in it. How fortunate you were to hear your trekking partner’s story when you did. It gave you hope when you needed it.
    Love that you shared your story and wisdom here Wynne. Graceful as always. 💕🌸

    Liked by 1 person

  6. I love everything about this post, Wynne! The quote from Buddha is incredible. Can you imagine how beautiful the world might be if everyone were to heed the advice? I love the idea of turning the page to a new chapter–I’m in the process now, and it’s scary but have also heard enough stories of “starting over” that I believe this is just the beginning for me. Finally, your reminder to always look out for the presence of Wonder is–I think–is the difference between “living” and simply going through the motions.

    The wisdom I would share is that “it may not be your fault, but you can take responsibility.” We have the power to overcome adversity–whether it stems from our own mistakes, our parents, systemic dysfunction, or mere bad luck. We don’t need to be victims of our circumstances. With a bit of determination, persistence, and patience, we can completely change our trajectory in life for the better.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I love that piece of wisdom, Erin. It says so much about how to get back up again no matter where we are – by taking that responsibility. Love your formula – determination, persistence and patience. Yes – thanks for sharing your story of how! 🙂 ❤

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Oh, Wynne! Tears and goosebumps.

    Early this morning, I was sitting and thinking, “How do I live in the world showing up as my new self with people who’ve known me … as the collection of old scripts I’m learning to let go, almost two full years after my midlife unraveling began? How do I stay out of explanation and just in gratitude that, while mid-40s on the outside, inside-me’s birth happened the day–just a couple weeks ago–my entire view of the world was changed by finally understanding ‘enough'”?

    The work I began diving into yesterday, and then a call with my sister, helped me trust that I’ll find my way; that was part of this morning’s contemplation, for sure. But it’s different to trust a thing in concept and then … read this beautiful, explicit affirmation of how we can have “multiple chapters in our lives that still add up to a glorious story” and go, HOLY WOW, the trust is really warranted!

    I don’t ever read anything you post and go, “Didn’t take anything from that!” But weeping over this post today, wow, am I grateful for that and how you share your wisdom.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I love, love, love, this synchronicity, Deb! And now you’ve passed the goosebumps on to me. Thank you for showing up to read and share your own story. Such a powerful current! ❤

      Liked by 1 person

  10. Pingback: Do It Again: The Gift of Having to Repeat Ourselves - Wise & Shine

  11. Wow Wynne, we must share pieces of our make-ups. Your sentence, “We have to pack it (wisdom) up in a suitcase so that it’s portable and then the recipient needs to have some hooks to hang it on when they unpack it.” sounds so much like my, “I’ve often said you write for yourself and you speak for yourself. What your reader or listener hears are more than the words, but the message they need at the moment.” I think my piece of wisdom I’d want to pass on is to live for yourself. Share all you want, be part of others’ lives, but you must do what you do. And if you’re one of the lucky ones, you can resonate with someone, or many ones, for a lifetime. No suitcases needed!

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Great story. My advice would be, “Put on your own oxygen mask first,” like on the airplane with children. If I am not supporting myself with the activities that allow me to breathe and thrive, I can’t help anyone else.

    Liked by 1 person

  13. I do love your climbing stories and I agree about the nugget of wisdom that the man shared with you – no matter how old you, you can rebuild yourself from setback.

    I also think that wisdom is like a deposit into your bank. It might not reap interest until the time is right. I think of it like advice my parents give me when I’m young only making sense and ringing true when I’m older and a parent myself.

    Regardless of which mountain you saw, I bet the view was spectacular and so breathtaking!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Oh, I love the bank analogy, Ab. So true that we store it away until we need it. But isn’t it interesting that we hear it in the first place enough to deposit it?

      And thanks for always being up for my climbing stories. You are a good sport, my friend!

      Liked by 1 person

  14. This is so rich and full of delicious wisdom. Life might have more to do with synchronicity than we think. Sometimes the most random piece of advice will land in my lap and it’s just what I need. I was reading the comics this morning, one of the characters was trying to make a decision based on the future she envisioned for herself, it was cute, but the idea is so applicable. Or I’ll read an article that answers some nagging question I was carrying around for far too long. Or like this post, I needed to see life differently and you nailed it, “Whether you go the short way or whether you go the long way, always look out for the presence of Wonder.” Hugs, C

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Love this comment, Cheryl! “Delicious wisdom” – that is a great phrase and I shiver to think about the synchronicity. Like the wonder of meeting you to learn your wisdom and how much it resonates with me. And the example of the comic strip – that’s so fun and wonderful all at the same time! What beautiful life!

      Liked by 1 person

  15. My piece of wisdom is similar to yours. I often say “Things always work out the way they’re supposed to.” We might not see it at the time, but when we look back with the wisdom of experience, we often see that what we wanted to happen may not have been the best path for us.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes, yes, yes, Michelle! I completely agree with this. We can’t see it at the time. I’ve started relaxing my ideas of what I want now that I’ve seen it happen so many times. Love it!

      Liked by 1 person

  16. If I liken a lifespan to a 100 page book….the story cannot begin 1/3-1/2 the way through the story. If we began writing/reading on page 40, the story would make no sense. Likewise, if we did nothing for the first 40 pages then expected to jump into the action and adventure with no back story, nothing leading up to it, it would make no sense.

    Life may seem like it begins at a certain age for some people, but the events and chapters that came before led you to this place. Some people need the 40 minute trek to find beauty, others may have the knowledge on where to find the shortcut and can take you there quicker/easier. Neither one is wrong, just different paths. 💞💞💞

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I love how you drew the parallels to the pages of the book. That’s such a great way to imagine in. Yes, we need use those early pages to start the story. Thanks for adding this, Dawn!

      Liked by 1 person

  17. What a great story and message! I love the imagery in this paragraph:

    Why is it so hard to pass wisdom from one human to another? We have to pack it up in a suitcase so that it’s portable and then the recipient needs to have some hooks to hang it on when they unpack it. 🤩

    Liked by 1 person

  18. So serendipity that you write about this very topic. I thought about it at the latest yesterday that what I saw as the right and right path last year is not the same as what I see today.
    This is at this moment my great discovery or my wise-dom

    I Sometimes think of life as one long big experiment from A to Z and along the way there can be many dead ends and detours, but we all get to Rome. (Rome = Graveyard)

    None of us Will survive this great mystery called life.
    And everything we experience along the way is a journey of Discovery.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. What a great comment, Parisa! Love how you see the road and that we all have the same final destination. That our own view of the path changes year over year – that makes such great sense!!

      Liked by 1 person

  19. It’s better to have and not need than to need and not have.

    That little nugget was handed down by my dad and has proven true over the years. Sunny outside with just a slight chance of rain later? Bring an umbrella, because on the off chance you will need it, the minor inconvenience over dragging it along will be outweighed by the fact that you are dry. That’s just one example of this very useful pearl of wisdom.

    Liked by 1 person

Comments are closed.