Can you learn from someone younger than yourself?
What a great
question.
Learning has many avenues that new information may increase your
understanding of the world around us.
Maturity
has shown me that I can learn from small children, to seniors and yes sometime even animals have taught me something. I think listening and watching all people no matter their age provides lessons and value. For the reason
that each person gains experiences from their surroundings, backgrounds, cultures, or the way they approach
a problem and gain understanding. That very concept that others experience makes for
wisdom and listening to other people’s ideas will make you stronger in the ways
of problem-solving.
"Wisdom involves using past experience to help solve a
current situation," For example if you lived in the city your entire life you bet a
12 year old that has lived in the country can teach you plenty about country life. "Having successfully
survived difficult situations, I know that many older people often want to discount the advice
of their younger workers, but I also know that those that can set aside their egos can learn that
even young people can apply their knowledge and experience to make task easier
or drive change. So yes I can learn from younger people. Wisdom means keeping an
open mind to better or more appropriate ways to solve a problem." So why not take advantage of all avenues of information.
This is a pretty difficult story but after 15 years my daughter returned to me. And eventually she came back to live with me after she sought me out. What makes me the proudest is her ability to work around potentially volatile situations. She proved that one day to me in a way that was profoundly special.
She grew up near Los Angeles and had to deal with the diversity and she learned well as when she went to Tampa, that school she went to was a powderkeg.
Around Christmas one year I gave her a lot of money for clothes and she was wise her money and her closet was full of new clothing. But she was frugal and amazingly mature for her age.
More than anything after all that adversity she told me that that was her favorite Christmas ever and started crying. When I bought the new Harry Potter when she was 15, she was like a child again. But that helped me too, as I learned a lot about her as a young lady and a person. Sometimes we put far too much emphasis on our age and less about the things that matter and a kid who had to grow up like she did is no fool.
Suffice it to say that experience has no real replacement but there is enough room for the wise man to consider alternatives.