Blog 22 - Wisdom, Defined

What is wisdom?

Or is wisdom something else—something that a person cannot take a test for? Can people without “qualifications” have wisdom? If so, how do they get it?

Finally, do you know a person or people whom you consider wise? How old are they? (Does being wise necessitate being old?) What do these people do or say to make you think they’re wise?

Write about it.

Wisdom’s dictionary definition is sagacity, discernment, or insight. To me, wisdom isn’t any of that. From experience, I think that wisdom comes from time, effort, and hard work. People that are wise have lived longer and fuller lives. Wisdom does not mean getting A’s on report cards, and it doesn’t mean graduating with a Ph.D. from a terrific university. It doesn’t mean rising to the top of a corporation. It doesn’t mean possessing photographic memory. Wisdom isn’t something you can acquire, wisdom comes to you.
One of the most wise people I know would be my grandfather. My grandpa passed away in 2001 when I was still very young, but he was what I think of when you say wise.
Another thing that I think gives a person wisdom is passed on information. For example, this weekend I made crumb cake. However, this was no normal crumb cake. I got my crumb cake recipe from Buddy Valastro's Cake Boss Book. Not only is it filled with stories about how Carlo's Bakery began, but it has original recipes that Buddy tested and made into easy recipes for the home. So I decided to read up on how to make the perfect crumb cake. When I started the recipe, I realized that you have to refer to another recipe to complete the first recipe, and then after that you have to refer to a third recipe to complete the second recipe which then completes the first and final recipe. So naturally it took me hours to make it and I was completely in over my head. Not only did I use the whole kitchen and half of the flour in the house, but when I put it in the oven, it overflowed and was pouring out of the pan and onto the bottom of the oven, making the oven smoke and smell weird. The crumb cake was supposed to bake for twenty-five minutes, but an hour later was when it was finally done. As I fought with my mom the whole time I cleaned the oven, I started to realize something: from suffering through those three recipes, I took all of Buddy's wisdom about cakes, mixed with my father's wisdom about not fighting with my mom, and then put those together with my newfound knowledge of all things baking, and I inherited that wisdom. I may not be wise, but I know a lot more and I can't wait to share that knowledge with others.
In summation, wisdom is something that has given someone a permanent knowledge of information that they might pass on in their future. Not everyone, has wisdom, in fact more people don't have wisdom then people that do. Personally, I think if you have wisdom you should pass it on and let others in on that part of your life.