Older and Wiser?

I often joke about the fact that wisdom usually comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone. This interesting article in the New York Times shares some interesting facts.

What is wisdom? Some say it is staying positive and kind in the face of challenges and as such it is one of the most important qualities you can have in aging successfully and gracefully.

An article in the New York Times explores the concept of wisdom. One geriatrician concluded, after interviewing some decision makers, that wisdom consists of cognition, reflection and compassion.

While cognition may slow with age, speed isn’t everything, the article suggests. While it may take seniors longer to recall information stored in their brains because there is more information stored, studies suggest that older people are more nuanced and can call upon familiar patterns in order to make better and wiser decisions.

In addition, satisfaction in life also rests on maintaining health and having positive relationships with others. But since not everyone has these things, does that mean they have no hope of satisfaction in life?

Not so, says the article. Wisdom can help such people find meaning, contentment and acceptance in later life. Wisdom is the ability to accept things as they are and not to wish for things to be the way they used to be or should be. I hope you find this information interesting.