Focusing on the Positive, A-Z; Day 23: Wisdom, Wonder, Worthy…

 

I chose three words today because, after going to Merriam-Webster for their full definitions, I couldn’t choose between the three. Maybe it is because we are nearing the end of the alphabet, this series, and I want to do a little extra. Or maybe each word ‘spoke’ to me. Whatever the reason, wisdom, wonder, and worthy are the positive words I have chosen for today. I hope you enjoy the post!!

Wisdom (noun)

: knowledge that is gained by having many experiences in life

: the natural ability to understand things that most other people cannot understand

: knowledge of what is proper or reasonable : good sense or judgment

1

a :  accumulated philosophic or scientific learning :  knowledge

b :  ability to discern inner qualities and relationships :  insight

c :  good sense :  judgment

d :  generally accepted belief <challenges what has become accepted wisdom among many historians — Robert Darnton>

2

:  a wise attitude, belief, or course of action

3

:  the teachings of the ancient wise men

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Wisdom is something I have always wanted, a word I wanted to be applied to me. When I was younger, I always believed that wisdom wasn’t something attainable until you were in the last years of your life, and then only if you had spent your life acquiring knowledge through organized learning methods (school) and had the guidance of someone that already possessed wisdom. I have no idea where I came up with this belief, but it was there just the same. I’m so grateful that isn’t the case.

Wisdom comes from experience. I have oodles of experience in different areas, but I don’t think that experience is the only thing needed for wisdom. I believe that wisdom needs to have the ability to apply what one has learned from their experiences. What good would the experience be otherwise? Perhaps that is just my own perception but it makes sense to me so I am going to stick with the belief until it is shown to be otherwise.

Wisdom is something we all have, by definition, because we all have experiences. Unless we are in a coma, there is no way for us not to have experiences that then give us wisdom. I believe we are all sages in our own right. Your knowledge my be different than mine but it doesn’t make it any less valuable.

Wonder (noun)

: something or someone that is very surprising, beautiful, amazing, etc.

: a feeling caused by seeing something that is very surprising, beautiful, amazing, etc.

: something that is surprising or hard to believe

1

a :  a cause of astonishment or admiration :  marvel <it’s awonder you weren’t killed> <the pyramid is a wonder to behold>

b :  miracle

2

:  the quality of exciting amazed admiration

3

a :  rapt attention or astonishment at something awesomely mysterious or new to one’s experience

b :  a feeling of doubt or uncertainty

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I think we should all remember what it is like to be a little kid full of wonder. Wonder keeps us wanting to know more and cherishing each new thing we learn. When we stop looking at the world around us with wonder then I believe we stop truly seeing it for all that it is, and how incredibly sad that is. The world is an amazing place. Life is amazing. Sure there are the parts that don’t feel or look so great and amazing, but, even in that, there are things to be amazed by. A flower isn’t just a flower, beautiful to look at and often times wonderful to smell. It’s a life force and an important part of our whole biosphere. I challenge you to look at the world with eyes of wonder today, if even for a little while. It will change the way you look at everything else. Well, at least it does for me.

Worthy (adjective)

: good and deserving respect, praise, or attention

: having enough good qualities to be considered important, useful, etc.

1

a :  having worth or value :  estimable <a worthy cause>

b :  honorable, meritorious <worthy candidates>

2

:  having sufficient worth or importance <worthy to be remembered

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I am a firm believer that we are all worthy of being considered worthy, in our own way. Just because someone can’t see your worth does not mean you are not worthy. It means they can’t see it based on their perception of what being worthy is. I don’t like the fact that the definition uses words like deserving, enough good, sufficient. I understand why they are used, but it just doesn’t sit right with me. In my own perception of things, the use of those words/terms separates people into groups of us and them. In so doing, it implies there are those that don’t possess worth. Perhaps I am being a bit extreme in my perceptions. Maybe this is my own issues coming to the surface through my fingers. I believe it should be a goal to find the worth in everyone we met, whatever their worth looks like. That may sound and be a bit idealistic, but I’m going to keep going with it. I challenge you to find worth is someone that you have a negative opinion of today. I think you just may be surprised at what you find.