In search of wisdom...

wis⋅dom   [wiz-duhm]
–noun
1. the quality or state of being wise; knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action; sagacity, discernment, or insight.
2. scholarly knowledge or learning: the wisdom of the schools.
3. wise sayings or teachings; precepts.
4. a wise act or saying.

Wisdom is such a broad and encompassing concept and I although I hope that I am wiser now than I was, and will continue to become more so, I do not presume that I will ever entirely have it. But I aspire to it nevertheless.

I think that wisdom, to whatever extent, is something that one comes by with experience, and provided one is open to it.  And I believe there is a certain understanding, certain wisdoms, that cannot be acquired secondhand. 

But I also believe that there are things that - like other skills and insights - can be learnt from people who have been there before and found the way. I think we all encounter wise people in our lives and if we are lucky, they will share their wisdom with us. My life is laced with wise souls who have enriched my knowledge and understanding. And this does not have so much to do with time or age - one of the wisest people I know is a lot younger than I am, and he always has been wiser - but the nature of age suggests more time for having gained experience...  

Filmmaker and photographer, Andrew Zuckerman, also believes this, and he believes that wisdom should be shared.  And so he created The Wisdom Project - a one-hour documentary film and accompanying book that "share the collective experiences of 51 luminaries over age 65, including authors, artists, and world leaders from Willie Nelson to Nelson Mandela."

"Inspired by the African concept of ubuntu, which emphasizes human connectedness—I am what I am because of who we all are—Zuckerman set out to gather and communicate the lessons his extraordinary subjects have learned about love, work, the environment, and conflict resolution."

I love, love, love this. ♥♥♥ it!

Zuckeman's list includes precisely the living people who I would want to pose these questions to myself if only I had access to them - artists, activists, statesmen and women...

Nelson Mandela - the only person who has ever acted as a politician (and he is so much more than just that) that overwhelms me with his awesomeness.   The only person who, if I were given the opportunity to meet just one well-know figure in my entire life, I would choose to meet. I can't even put my respect for this man into words.

Andrew Wyeth - artist extraordinaire, whose beautiful, sparse, essential portraits and landscape paintings are some of my very favourites.

Dr Jane Goodall - groundbreaking primatologist and conservationist and someone I wanted to be when I was younger.

Chinua Achebe - poet, novelist and all round incredible man.

Dame Judi Dench - wonderful actress and epitome of elegance at any age.

The list goes on. And on...

The book is currently only for sale in America and Canada (Yay for Amazon International) and the documentary I believe has yet to be released. Can't wait to see it.

If you could tap into the wisdom of others, who would be on your list?