Jan 28, 2026–Once you’ve reached midlife, you are the least stupid you have ever been or ever will be.
That’s why every person who has passed that milestone should write down wisdom from their life that worked for them, and that might work for future generations.
I am not wise, you say? Yes, you are. The only function of life is to accumulate wisdom. The system breaks down, though, when you neglect to share that wisdom.
Sharing wisdom is hard to do. Because no one wants to listen to your advice. You didn’t, when your elders tried to impress upon you the habits of learning a skill you could “fall back on,” or suggested investing in plastic.
The whole concept of having a mentor has gone away. Maybe due to the ease of pulling up a video on your cell phone to learn how to replace a belt in your clothes dryer.
But there is a need for deeper knowledge, in navigating life rather than sailing through it.
I’ve written before about my mentor, Dick, who was twice my age. He would call me up at random hours to scold and encourage me, basically yelling at me. No matter what he said, he always agitated me. But that got me thinking, and that got me moving.
I so admired his thinking, that when I learned he faced a limited time on earth, I asked him to write down 100 of his best bits of wisdom for us following in his footsteps. To my surprise and joy, he did. I actually compiled them into a book. To give you an idea of what I am looking for in your own book of wisdom, here is a sampling of his bits. Simple on the surface. But profound upon reflection.
-If you start it, finish it.
-Where your attention is, is where you are.
-The fastest thing in the world is time. We never run out of it; we just mismanage it.
-One who follows intelligently may someday lead. If you think you are a leader, just turn around.
I challenged random people to give me their single most valuable bit of wisdom. Sifting through fortune cookie platitudes and Dad jokes, I found several keepers:
-Quit worrying about what people think about you. They’re not thinking about you.
-Fly first class! If you don’t, your children will.
-Holding a grudge is like drinking poison and hoping the other person dies.
-Be brave enough to quit the things that aren’t right for you anymore.
-When people accuse you of something, they are usually talking about themselves
-Do something that matters.
-You can’t get there from here: you will have to start somewhere else.
Here’s one that is apropos for this topic: It’s OK to ask for advice.
So I challenge you. Sit down and put your own words of wisdom in writing.
Seal it up, stick it in a box your offspring will find in the back of your closet when they are throwing out your old ties and handbags.
To wrap this up, I leave you with one of Dick’s pearls of wisdom. He said, “Wisdom was hard to come by: don’t sell it cheap.”
I agree. You should be giving it away.
The real challenge might be finding someone who will take it.