... another begins

"Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning
but a going on,
with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us."
Hal Borland


I went to visit some long-time friends today. Identical twin girls whom I first met when they were just toddlers (39 years ago!) are all grown up with children of their own. It was fun seeing them. It was fun being surrounded by the energy of children, not an old person. I learned that it's not being a parent these days.

I know what you're thinking - has it ever been easy to be a parent? Probably not. But, today I heard about living with juvenile diabetes, autism, sensory overload, ear aches and teenagers. Thank goodness for grandparents!


While I was driving home I listened to an NPR interview with an author who wrote a book about old people and wisdom.* Along with obviously trying to sell a book, the interviewer asked this question of his radio listeners:

Wisdom is _________.

How would you fill in the blank?I'm going to ask the question at the dinner and see what kind of answers I get. Personally I think the words of "The Gambler" are as good a definition of wisdom as any ".... you got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away, know when to run ..." That pretty much covers all circumstances where being wise counts most, don't you think?

Hoping you'll find wisdom in the year ahead,
Merry ME


*Writer Henry Alford talks about searching for wisdom by criss-crossing the country to interview people over the age of 70. His findings make up a new book entitled How to Live: A Search for Wisdom From Old People. http://www.timeout.com/newyork/articles/books/70172/old-joy

Comments

terri st. cloud said…
ohhh!!!
what a GREAT question!!!!

and i have NO answer!
tells ya how wise i am!

gonna give it lots of thought tho!!
thanks for asking it...

and i think i'm with you.....not
sure anyone can top the gambler lyrics!
January 2, 2009 at 9:02 PM
Sorrow said…
i'm hearing kenny rogers in my head...
yep
wise words indeed.
I find the wisest words i ever hear come out of the mouths of children..
January 2, 2009 at 9:57 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Every Little Bit Helps

Image
UPDATE:  I'll be picking a winner on Thanksgiving Day. So make a donation and leave your name in the comment section below.  ME UPDATE:  I see a tiny problem but it should be easy to fix. Commenting anonymously doesn't get your name in the drawing. And there's no way to tell Anonymous A from Anonymous B. Are you different or the same? I need to be able to get back in touch with you somehow. We can exchange email addy's later. But please at least leave your name. If you still comment as Anonymous, just say your name in the comment.  You can use first name and last initial. Or last name alone. Or an Alias. Just so I can get your name in the hat. And really, thank you. Thank you again and again. Merry ME _____ I always breathe a sigh of relief when a storm veers away from Jacksonville.  At the same time it's hard not to feel guilty that it went somewhere else.  I was in no way prepared for Hurricane Sandy. Like a lot of others, I felt like the...
Read more

An Easter Miracle

Image
How is it that after someone you love dies, time moves on even when it feel like its standing still? Philosophers, poets and writers have tried to answer that question since time began. I don't have the answer. I just know that, by what I can only imagine is the Grace of God, it does. When you heart is broken into something resembling a 1000 piece jig saw puzzle and there are no directions on how to put it together, somehow it mends. When some else dies and it cracks again, God stitches the old wound and the new wound together into a patchwork of healed scars. Fifteen years ago, when I watched my mother draw a breath then counted the seconds before she took another but none came, I sat by her bed and tried to imagine being a motherless child. Then I did what any kid would do, ran down the long hospital corridor sounding the alarm. "My mother isn't breathing." "My mother isn't breathing."  Want to see doctors, nurses, CNAs, and cleaning ladies tur...
Read more

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY BLOG PARTY

Image
In honor of women everywhere ... Welcome to the International Women's Day Blog Party (Turn up the sound: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuB3_HLcFfk ) International Women's Day is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. To this end, this party is a way to honor those special ladies who have inspired us and made us better than we ever thought we could be. It is with gratitude and pride I welcome you to my blog. I'm anxious to hear your stories and celebrate your choices. All you have to do is go down to the bottom of this post and click on the comment section. That will take you to another page where you can write your tribute in the space provided. You can use your Google/Blogger user name or remain anonymous. There is nothing to join. If you choose to post anonymously please leave your name in the comment section so we'll all know who you are. When you're through hit publish and voila your lady is o...
Read more