A 23 year old writer who creates books about his life experiences and what they’ve taught him probably sounds more than a bit ridiculous to some people. Now, I’ve never claimed to have all the answers. I’ve never claimed to have any answers for that matter. I’ve tried my best to make clear that my writing is a log of the lessons I am learning in the current season of my life. But still, how could someone with so little actual life experience have anything wise or valuable to write about?
It’s true, there is no teacher like experience. But having experience does not guarantee wisdom, just like going to college or graduate school does not necessarily make you smarter. All that schooling means very little if you don’t actually attend class, do your work, and think critically in order to really learn something. Experience is the same way.
The wisdom gained from experience comes from taking the time to reflect on those experiences and to learn from them. With this in mind, it’s quite possible for a much younger person to have plenty of wisdom to share. The young person may not have as much experience, but she has taken the time to learn from the ones she has had, which is the most important factor in gaining wisdom.
Experience alone does not make someone wise. Experience is part of the equation, but without critical thinking, and humble reflection, it’s hard to gain anything from our experiences other than grey hair.
It’s true, there is no teacher like experience. But having experience does not guarantee wisdom, just like going to college or graduate school does not necessarily make you smarter. All that schooling means very little if you don’t actually attend class, do your work, and think critically in order to really learn something. Experience is the same way.
The wisdom gained from experience comes from taking the time to reflect on those experiences and to learn from them. With this in mind, it’s quite possible for a much younger person to have plenty of wisdom to share. The young person may not have as much experience, but she has taken the time to learn from the ones she has had, which is the most important factor in gaining wisdom.
Experience alone does not make someone wise. Experience is part of the equation, but without critical thinking, and humble reflection, it’s hard to gain anything from our experiences other than grey hair.
