Wisdom Is Power
Many people use the common expression "don't get old" but rather than thinking about how we as humans can keep ourselves from aging, we should appreciate what we have accomplished in life and the gift of wisdom we attain the older we get. The word "Wisdom", in its purest form is defined as "the quality of having experience, knowledge and good judgement." The wonderful gift of wisdom allows us to not only reflect on our own accomplishments, but then give our knowledge we have accumulated in our lives to the younger generations so that they can improve and become more well rounded people. As teachers, we have this wonderful ability to use this wisdom that we have to teach our students and guide them in the right way through life. Wisdom is essential in stories as well because with the use of wisdom in our stories, we teach students important life lessons that they will keep with them for eternity.
Using Wisdom: In Story
Yo-Yo master Tomonari Ishiguro was once a 14 year old boy with a passion. This passion that Ishiguro had for for a simple toy that we all know as a yo-yo. Ishiguro tells a very powerful and moving story in this TedTalk by reflecting on his journey of how he overcame many obstacles to becoming a master of the yo-yo. He recalls how such a simple toy had such a great impact on the person he is today and opened many doors for him to become successful despite some bumps along the journey. Ishiguro was told at a young age that using a yo-yo would close many doors for him, he gave up his passion when he returned to Japan and became an engineer. Ishiguro did not enjoy his new job and then quits to pursue his true passion. This story ties into wisdom because using his wisdom that he has now, Ishiguro thinks back to the decision that he made to quit and now having that wisdom that he has today, he would not have told himself to quit and to keep reaching your goal. The important lesson in this TedTalk is to never give up your dreams because once you gain the wisdom and knowledge at an older age, you do not want to have any regrets.
In an article written by Dr. Orly Avitzur, she discusses the importance and impact hearing stories from our elders are for our own development as humans. She discuses the conversations she has had with a man named Dr. Oliver Sacks who was a neurologists who has done many studies on the brain for over 60 years. Avitzur speaks about how the stories and wisdom that Dr. Sacks has bestowed on to her through stories has helped shape her as a doctor. She further explains that without the wisdom she has gained from Dr. Sacks has allowed her to improve as a doctor as well.
"It continues to be both a great privilege and a great responsibility to hear stories from you, our readers, and to present them in our publication so that others may learn from your experience and wisdom." -Dr. Avitzur
"When people die, they cannot be replaced," -Dr. Sacks
The Principle Thing: Teaching With Wisdom
Antoine McCoy is a National Board Certified Teacher and Exceptional Needs Specialist who discusses in an article he wrote about the importance of using wisdom in teaching and storytelling. He recalls stories and experiences he has had to show how he used his wisdom to overcome the challenges that some of his students had in the classroom. He stresses the importance of having wisdom as a teacher in the classroom and the opportunity we have to share this wisdom and knowledge with our students. Telling stories and using them as life lesson is one of the most important powers we have as teachers in a classroom and we must use it.
“Wisdom is the principal thing;
Therefore get wisdom.And in all your getting, get understanding."
"There is a lot of information available and “how-to” manuals on teaching students and raising kids. However, being armed with that material alone is not enough, unless we know how to use that knowledge in our daily interactions with our students and children. What am I referring to? What is this secret I’m alluding to? The secret is Wisdom." - Antoine McCoy
Ditkoff, M. (2017, October 08). Storytelling and the Wisdom revolution. Retrieved March 15, 2021, from https://www.huffpost.com/entry/storytelling-and-the-wisdom-revolution_b_59d9f432e4b08ce873a8ceca
Inspiration education unlimited. (2011, March 23). Retrieved March 18, 2021, from https://antoinemccoy.com/teaching-with-wisdom/
Experience and wisdom: Why storytelling matters. (n.d.). Retrieved March 18, 2021, from https://www.brainandlife.org/articles/the-late-oliver-sacks-reminds-us-of-the-privilege-and/
TEDtalksDirector. (2013, April 19). My journey to yo-yo mastery | black. Retrieved March 18, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnuFrtTNUTc&list=LL&index=3
What a cool story about Tomonari and his Yo-yo, this is inspiring and impressive! That is a true skill that developed from believing in himself, determination, and practice. I don't think that all people have the mental stability or privilege to have that confidence and grit to achieve their dreams. It doesn't mean they many don't try but it should be encouraged and vocalized to a greater degree, the importance of believing in yourself and what you can do.
ReplyDeleteEveryone has their own wisdom, skill, and knowledge, something that makes us unique. I think as teachers we have a part in helping kids to understand what they can do, what they want to do, and who they are. We have the power to help them change socially, emotionally, physically, and mentally. This can be connected to social emotional learning that is most recently being incorporated into curriculums. Should students be taught how to understand themselves and more about what wisdom really is?
As you said, there are so many manuals on raising children, teenagers etc. but no one really knows because the perfect person does no exist. There are many things we can do to help kids become happy with who they are and what they do, and sharing stories as adults is most definitely one way to do that. Thanks for sharing your input and ideas on this topic.
Thank you for this blog post! Hearing stories from others is so valuable. We can learn something from anyone, regardless of age, because everyone has different experiences to share. It is through our individual experiences that we gain wisdom. While it is true that older people tend to have more life experiences and more time to reflect on them, and therefore more wisdom, wisdom can be found in young children as well.
ReplyDeleteI believe you illustrate that wisdom is not only held by those who are older in the TED Talk featuring Tomonari Ishiguro. Ishiguro is not old, but he has gained wisdom through his experiences. He learned that passion has value, and if you work for it you can find success through your passions.
I often turn to my parents for wisdom. I find that I know the steps I want to take in life, but I am unsure of the best way to take them. My parents use their wisdom to give me advice on what they believe is the best path forward. It is up to me to follow their advice or try a different path. Whichever decision I make brings its own results and experiences, which in turn brings me wisdom.
I gain wisdom from people I look up to and trust. I learn to trust someone and to take their wisdom by telling them my stories and hearing theirs. Through the sharing of stories, we build trust and exchange wisdom.
Thank you for highlighting the link and value between stories and wisdom.
Best,
Kate
What an inspiring post! Thanks so much for sharing this information. The idea about wisdom is so interesting to me and I think typically when we hear the word wisdom we usually envision someone older who is wise. However, I would definitely argue just has you articulated about the TED talk, that you can also gain wisdom at a young age too. I can personally relate to this because I have had many life experiences at such a young age. From losing my mother to the challenges of trying to get myself established in my career. I have certainly been through a lot. Although, I have had many obstacles in my life, I am very grateful because I feel like I walked away from each experience wiser and full of wisdom. I learned a lot of life lessons based on many of these experiences. I now utilize this to my advantage in the classroom because I can share my own personal challenges and stories that can relate to some students. I enjoy sharing a lot of my challenges with my students because it shows my vulnerability and willingness to be honest with them and I have noticed that students always seem to respond positively because they appreciate me being so open. I do this in hopes of building a connection with the students and if they see me being open and honest, I hope that they in return will be honest and communicative with me. I find this to be a very valuable way of building a strong rapport with my students and opening the lines of communication.
ReplyDeleteWow this is another great example of how we can use storytelling in our everyday lives. This kind of reminded me of a group that went on X-Factor (I'm not sure if it was that or another show) they told the story of migrant children through the use of shadows. It was very moving and just thinking about it makes me tear up a bit.
ReplyDeleteIt really struck me about the importance of children hearing stories from their elders. They not only learn important aspects of their history but learn from them how to tell stories. Although the story might change from generation to generation it is the process of telling that story that is probably the most important.
Also, we as teachers must help students to find what they are good at. Even if it is just a yo-yo trick!
Hi Mark,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing about the connection between wisdom and storytelling. I think wisdom is usually hard-won, the result of experiences that have shaped a person's life. I agree with Jaclyn that age isn't necessarily the defining factor of wisdom, but rather the type of experiences someone has, and the reflection upon those experiences. Your post connects so much to Chaisen's about being a reflective thinker - I believe to gain wisdom, it is not only the experiences that count but the reflection on the experiences.
Your post reminds me of the quote attributed to Albert Einstein: "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results." With wisdom and reflection on experience, we have the ability to choose a different path if the results were not what we desired the first time. I find sharing stories of my own frustrations, challenges and mistakes help normalize those feelings for my students, and opens the door to exploring strategies to help face those challenges, both big and small.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteThis was such a great blog post! Just as it is important for us to practice our skills in storytelling, it is equally as important to practice our skills as listeners. I think your blog post articulated this very well, as you wrote about the value in listening to stories of those who can share their wisdom. The resources you shared supported your points very well; I particularly liked Tomonari Ishiguro's TEDTalk and the quote you shared from Antoine McCoy. Hearing stories from people with wisdom, gained through the years or through experiences, can help shape the growth of those who listen to the stories. The point you made about listening to stories from elders reminds me of something I included in my own blog post about the importance of bringing elders into the classroom to share in the power of storytelling. There is truly so much we can learn from people when we are actively tuned into their stories. Thank you again for sharing!
-Shawna Zeisner
Hi!
ReplyDeleteI liked how you used Ishiguro's story as an example of gaining wisdom because we often think that wisdom can only be gained through certain types of experiences. I know I don't usually correlate advice with wisdom, but I made the connection while reading, and with you relating it to sharing our wisdom in the classroom. By sharing our experiences and advice with our students, we will not only be able to relate to them about what they're going through, but to be able to build a bond as well. I think it was great that Ishiguro's example of yo-yoing tied in to finding your passion and sticking with it.
The connection you made between wisdom and storytelling is so important! It makes me think of how, as teachers, we can use our wisdom while telling stories to our students to help teach them valuable life lessons. When I think back to my elementary school years, my most impactful teacher was ALWAYS telling us stories about lessons she had learned over the years of her life. She taught me that it is important to be reflective of my life experiences because that is what helps you gain wisdom, which can then be passed on to others who may not have experienced the same things as you. Just as Stephanie said in her comment, this is such a great example of how we can use storytelling in our everyday lives, or in an informal manner with our students.
ReplyDelete-Colleen K.
My biggest take away from this article was the ability to impart wisdom through storytelling. The phrase " a smart man learns from his mistakes but a wise man learns from the mistakes of others" pops into mind. I think teaching students to recognize these moments is a powerful tool. At our wisest we are able to navigate unknown situations by using our previous knowledge. Sometimes this knowledge is from our own experiences but often it is from a story we have heard. It is wise advice for children to not talk to strangers but for most of us this is something we believe because of stories we have heard and not something we have directly experienced. Storytelling can be so powerful in imparting wisdom if students can be taught to look for it.
ReplyDelete-Bob
Hi Mark!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading this post as it did not necessarily have to do with academia! Haha! Not that academia is, bad I just very much appreciate how you also agree that it is not everything. Teaching students life lessons and "Wisdom" is just as, if not more important, than teaching material. During the school day, we are essentially each students' parents for 8 hours and it is necessary, especially in the beginning of the year to create and environment where students feel comfortable sharing their life experiences. When we earn this trust with students, it allows for us to see what their passions are and get to know them as people, and maybe envision who they will be in the future. Storytelling and wisdom go hand-in-hand and I think you were able to describe this through your blog post.
~Chaisen
Hi!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post! Our accomplishments give us something to be proud of, and therefore provide us with a story we can share to motivate others. It is amazing to see how something, no matter how large or small the concept, can truly empower individuals and allow them to be part of a larger story. I only have one family member who went through to get a masters degree, and her support and motivation encouraged me to start my masters program straight out of undergrad. I was able to learn from her accomplishments and experiences which ultimately guided my educational path. This concept can truly be added to any aspect of life and I am glad you chose to write about it! As we have experiences much more than our young students, it is wonderful to realize just how much of an impact we are making on them by sharing our stories with them.
Thank you for sharing!
Ali Lombard