Wise “Words” or Wisdom?

Books and wise advice don’t work.  Reading gives you information and enriches the mind.  Wise advice gives you knowledge and makes you ponder…for a short while…but they don’t give you the kind of insight and understanding that life’s experiences do.  Of course, there’s nothing wrong in reading and listening for inspiration but frankly, they have no profound, long-standing impact in your life.  My uncle who used to gorge on plates of “nasi lemak” and “char koay teow” knew it was unhealthy to eat these fatty foods.  Yes, he read about the “benefits of taking nutritious diets”, heard the countless grumbles from his wife, heeded the warnings from his doctor.  Sure, he tried.  To be fair, he tried hard.  But he always, somehow, ended up…savoring his “nasi lemak” and “char koay teow” with a relish….well, until the day he had to do his heart bypass.  Articles on heart health – knowledge.  Nagging from wife and doctor – irritation.  Bypass surgery – experience that bestowed him with the wisdom to make that big change in his life.  Of course, this story is perhaps painting it too harsh – and why do we always have to go through something so devastating to change?

To something lighter then.  My four-year-old nephew is a stubborn boy…like most kids his age are.  It’s amusing to observe the constant tests of willpower between parents and child.  One Saturday, as we were out shopping together, this little fellow, as usual, had the excitement and energy of an Energizer bunny.  To his parents’ frustration, shouts of “Don’t run or else…!  You’ll fall!  Be careful” only spurred him on.  Before they start to pull their hair out or start spanking the little one’s backside, this aunty stepped in.  “Just…let him run,” I said.  They were totally bewildered by the thought of…just letting it be.  “Kids need their space too, you know?”  “Huh?!!  Are you nuts?!” his parents said.  I told them to trust me and let him be.  So, he ran and ran and ran…and he ran so fast that…he went right smack into a pillar.  Nothing too serious, just a small bump on his forehead but a really, really painful experience.  For the rest of the day, he stopped running.

Books and wise advice don’t work – they alone can’t help you, but used in tandem with life’s experiences…now, that’s powerful!  Be thankful for the good things in life but be extra thankful for the challenges and mistakes, because they are only there to help make you a wiser person.