There is a great advantage to being over 70. If you are over 70, you are not afraid to admit you are ignorant. It is a marvelous platform for learning by first admitting you do not know. When I was younger, I was always afraid to admit I did not know the answer. I was embarrassed that someone would think I was dumb or ignorant. And this attitude is a major hurtle to learning anything new. It took me awhile to fess up.
Now I do not care. Admitting ignorance is the first step to knowledge. And I find myself taking this step more today than ever before. I find myself almost delighted in my professed ignorance because I find so may other people feigning knowledge. I learn faster and more efficiently today because I understand what I do not know and also what I do. It is distinguishing these two devils that only comes with the wisdom of age.
Our dish washer is broken and I admit I do not know how to fix it. In this regard, I am ignorant so theoretically I could learn how to fix it. But I have advanced wisdom now, so I will not even try to learn how to fix it despite my professed ignorance. I am over 70 and I am unabashedly happy to remain ignorant in some areas.
This is the sign of ultimate wisdom.
No comments:
Post a Comment