When I was wise…

Once upon a time I was wise. Or at least I thought I was. I figured out I knew everything there is to know about everything. I was totally Ms. Know-It-All. I knew everything, from the little things like how to brush your teeth, to the big things, like how to parent. I'd read the books, watched the show, heard from the "wise ones", and pondered on everything they said. I felt totally wise. Ask me anything, and I'll reply well. I'll let my springs of wisdom flow freely as you drink deeply.

Or so I thought.

How wrong I was!

Because, as time went by, I realized that there's more to wisdom than just watching and reading. There's experience. Everything I knew and pondered on was tested - sometimes by fire. All my "wisdom" was sifted like wheat. And I realized how not-so-wise I was. I'd depended too much on others, what they said, what they thought, at the expense of reality. I came face to face with my folly. I felt the nothingness of my wisdom.

So I decided to do it different. Not that I throw away all that I've learned, but I do more than that. I'll step down from my high horse of "Dr. Wiseman" and take time to use what I've learned to better my knowledge base. I'll take time to ask myself the questions, to learn; to really, really learn; and to realize that learning never ends.