Wisdom—just a word or something more

And how do we get it?

Oct 12, 2024

A photo of the blue sky and the sun peaking through the clouds with a quotation from Eckhart Tolle: “Wisdom comes with the ability to be still. Just look and just listen. No more is needed.” — Wisdom © Kathryn LeRoy

Hello friend,

I must confess. Words fascinate me and always have. My first dictionary landed on my school desk, a red hardcover with over one hundred pages of words waiting to be found. Excitement. Intrigue. Curiosity. Words to fill a child’s mind with possibility.

One word never flew from the pages—wisdom. What seven-year-old thinks of growing wiser or needing wisdom? I certainly did not.

But now? I wonder how much, or if, I have entered into the elusive world of the wise.

According to Merriam-Webster, wisdom, a noun, is the ability to discern inner qualities and relationships. The wise display insight and good sense.

I searched for others’ thoughts on wisdom and accumulated several insights. Could that be wisdom knocking? I will spare you the hundred or so and keep it to five.

Moments fly by. Think how much we miss when the undertow of our busyness drowns a child’s smile, a sunset, or the last word spoken.

A photo of a running brook next to the rocky shore with a quotation from Ralph Waldo Emerson: “The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the ordinary.” — See © Kathryn LeRoy

If I want to get better, I must learn to know what I can change and still face my deepest fears.

A photo of the dark blue night sky with the silhouette of branches on the left and the full moon in the lower right with a quotation from James Baldwin: “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” — Face © Kathryn LeRoy

What does it mean to have a loving heart?

Compassion. Empathy. Patience. Non-judgment. Peace. Love.

Those are good places to begin.

A photo of the branches and deep green leaves of an oak tree with a quotation from Charles Dickens: “A loving heart is the truest wisdom.” — Love © Kathryn LeRoy

I walk on slippery ground the moment I believe, “I know.” Invariably, something remains hidden for me to find and learn. I may know a lot, but I don’t know everything.

A photo of the rocky ground in shades of brown and grey with a quotation from Confucious: “True wisdom is knowing what you don’t know.” — Know © Kathryn LeRoy

You can’t gain wisdom from reading about life. You must live it, mistakes and victories alike. My most profound learning comes from my reflections on my actions—how they influenced the consequences, others, and my next steps.

A photo of the setting sun with the sky in layers of blue and shades of orange with the tree tops in the bottom with a quotation from Helen Keller: “Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood.” — Live © Kathryn LeRoy

Wise words taught me wisdom is not a noun, but a verb, an action—actions we choose every day of our lives.

See. Face. Love. Know. Live.

Freedom is not just another word we toss around half-heartedly.

Journalist Krista Tippett offers three practices for wisdom and wholeness and answers “How do we stand before the pain and promise of the world and keep hope and courage alive?”

A few songs reflect wisdom about the universal human experience: I Can See Clearly Now by Johnny Nash, Only Time by Enya, and Playing for Time by Peter Gabriel.

“In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.”
—Eleanor Roosevelt

A single pick Rose of Sharon against a dark green blurred background. — Sweet Rose of Sharon © Kathryn LeRoy

If you would like to read more from me, visit my website. I’ll be there waiting for you.

With gratitude,

Kathryn

I always welcome your thoughts, so please leave a comment or click the little heart—you can also respond to this email.

Wisdom—just a word or something more

And how do we get it?

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