How have you become more wise through the years?

I think I've become more wide because I sit here and post messages on the forum.

OHHHH...more wiSe...hmmm, that's a whole other matter.

I think I've become more wise because I read messages on the forum.

[ February 11, 2006, 06:53 PM: Message edited by: Bluebird ]

Seriously, it is from spending more time in prayer and from listening to others who are wiser than myself.

I'm wiser because I finally surrender to God and let HIM drive...

I'm wiser because I found out that it's more important to "pick your battles," and NOT so important to "be RIGHT" all the time.

I'm wiser because I realized that it really IS okay to stop and smell the roses, or waste an entire day playing with my grandbeauty.

I'm wiser because I learned it's just a job. And, it's only money.

I'm wiser because LOVE is all that matters.

JJ

I think I'm wiser now than I used to be because I've learned to live life one day at a time and take things as they come. Well, most of the time, anyway.

Like JJ, one of the best things I've learned how to do is to "pick my battles", not to waste energy or time on things that really don't matter in the end anyway. Put that together with the reality that "this too shall pass", and I find I can get myself through just about anything with more grace and serenity than ever before.

I've also learned not to take life so seriously, to take time to play, laugh, listen to music, colour with my granddaughter...allowing myself to just be - and to do nothing at all...in other words, living life at MY pace as much as possible.

For me, it's all come down to focusing on the basics of my life - like learning how to love God, hubby, others and self better (which usually means learning how to be still and listen more) - and learning how to allow others to love me (which means learning how to let go of the mangled thinking that keeps me from believing in that love).

Bluebird, JJ, Jackie and Eagle...you have said it all...and quite eloquently I might add...so I guess listening to wise women like you and embracing your pearls of wisdom instead of thinking that I have all of the answers is hopefully making me wise too....

I was thinking about this topic this evening, and it struck me how long I've been praying the first verse of the Serenity Prayer - and how I may finally be seeing (and hopefully living?) the wisdom behind that prayer.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.
(- by Reinhold Niebuhr)

I too embrace the Serenity prayer daily, first thing said in my morning chat with God...
I have learned over many years I can't say I pick my battles because no matter how someone tries to insult or instigate an angry response I never consider that a battle, or even a war. Thats the honest truth. I would have to feel so helpless and beaten down to make something a battle and that just has never happened to me yet. I believe one must really care to battle someone else and apparently I just don't care enough. I find most things terribly amusing....
I can only hope this denotes some assemblance of wisdom, I am certainly old enough....

Suzieq I could and would battle the demons within me causing whatever your faced with. I hope they find the problem and eradicate it very soon...

[ February 12, 2006, 09:52 PM: Message edited by: chatty lady ]

Same here, I pick my battles carefully, spend time
in prayer, and love listening to what others have to
say.

My favorite is, “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.”
Plato

Suzieq...if I remember correctly your doctors were doing some tests. Have any of them come back yet? What are they recommending?

My friend is testing a new drug, because of the results of bone degeneration due to tamoxifen.
I've always admired her courage...as I do yours.

Sue,
I was diagnosed with MS in 2002.

You are right not to let the negativity bring you down. Our society can make you feel less than whole without ever blatantly saying anything. It is all so subtle.

Let us know how you are doing. Your emotional strnegth is as important now as your physical health.

Good Luck to you.

If, I lived closer I would take you to the doctors and shopping...how exasperating that must be. Is your family close-by to help when you have appointments?
You have a strong courageous spirit, wish I could be there, to give you rides, to be that friend that holds your hand...while you go through this trial.
Day by day...they do say laughter is the best medicine...but, I'm counting on prayer.

Patty, thanks for jumping in and lending some comfort.

My husband is an optometrist and does occasional home visits. He visited a 52 year-old man the other day who has MS. He told my hubby that his computer is his lifeline. What did we do without them?

I hope you are managing well with your MS.

Sue,

I wish I could come down there and help you out. I know what it feels like to be grounded like that.

Chuck and I manage a group of volunteer drivers who take cancer patients to their appointments. I've been wondering if there are services for others who need them as well. I'm going to find out, because it not, there should be.

I saw an experiment on TV yesterday where they tracked brain activity on a patient undergoing a frightening experience. When her husband held her hand, her brain waves calmed considerably.

It's amazing what just a hand to hold can mean.

smile

Absolutely, Smile!

I firmly believe I would never have made it through radiation if my husband hadn't been there with me every step of the way.

Sue, you're going to be fine no matter what happens, because you have all the things you need to survive anything.

Hugs to you!

And for those without a mate we can offer a cyber hand to hold onto. It's not the same, but I'm sure it will help.

smile

That's what friends are for, Smile. And not just on line. Many of those Chuck drives to their doctor's appointments are alone for one reason or another. Reaching out a hand to help is what we've both just always done. Which probably made it a lot easier to be caregivers for each other.

smile, we're back to the topic of being touched. haven't we talked aobut this before? It's so true. I was reading in a book this week people who give four hugs a day are typically very healthy people. Now which book was that? Gosh my memory is bad...

Susieq,

I remember that one of the things that most upset my Nichole, was that she couldn't remember important things in her life. Seizures destroyed her memory. I would constantly retell events, and assure her that these things occurred, but in her own mind, they were not remembered. It was devastating to both of us....We who can remember, no matter how faulty our memories might be, are keepers of the truth as we see it -but so are you. Few memories are sometimes greater than many. And have you ever noticed that memories are more about an emotion than a movie of what transpired? Nichole always remembered her beloved grandmother. While sitting on the deck one evening, we saw two shooting stars - she said " Momma, there's Grandma and Grandpa - they are there to tell me they are waiting for me, in the flower garden." I just looked at her. Wondering where this child had come from.........She died years later, but I knew. I knew . She was with that Grandma and "pappa" in the flower garden.....Memories not so important now, as the love that remains thru all time.......

Searcher

Dotsie,
Thank you for starting Boomer Women Speak. This is a great site. It has been my experience that some people get wiser with age and others don't. I know an 86-year-old and 91-year-old couple I thought had wisdom; then, I discovered they don't. She has been brainwashed. He's a blockhead: stubborn as can be. I thought they were both Christians and discovered it was all a sham. She can't tell the truth. He can't face the truth. In my opinion TRUTH is a core ingredient of Christianity.
What say you?
Should a word to the wise, come from someone with wisdom?
Ciao,
B. Rose

Bonnie, tell us more. Are these poeple close to you? Do they influence your life in any way?

I'm in agreement about truth being the core of Christianity. Truth and faith.