“Before our white brothers arrived to make us civilized men, we didn't have any kind of prison. Because of this, we had no delinquents. We had no locks nor keys and therefore among us there were no thieves. When someone was so poor that he couldn't afford a horse, a tent or a blanket, he would, in that case, receive it all as a gift. We were too uncivilized to give great importance to private property. We didn't know any kind of money and consequently, the value of a human being was not determined by his wealth. We had no written laws laid down, no lawyers, no politicians, therefore we were not able to cheat and swindle one another. We were really in bad shape before the white men arrived and I don't know how to explain how we were able to manage without these fundamental things that (so they tell us) are so necessary for a civilized society.” (Lakota Holy Man John Fire Lame Deer, March 17, 1903 – December 14, 1976)

Setting aside any bias toward or against any aforementioned gender, people, culture or society, there is great wisdom in Lame Deer’s words.

Imagine living and working with others where there’s trust, mutual respect, kindness and understanding. No hidden agenda, talking behind the back. Shared goals and objectives. Excellent communication. Leaders who lead from the front with open and honest dialogue. Bipartisanship. Self and group determination to adapt, overcome and succeed for everyone’s good in today’s complex world, on our spinning top, spinning ever faster, wobbling…out of control?

If wisdom is “the ability to think and act using knowledge, experience, understanding, common sense and insight,” does that mean you have to be older to be wiser?

If wisdom is associated with attributes such as “unbiased judgment, compassion, experiential self-knowledge, self-transcendence and non-attachment, and virtues such as ethics and benevolence,” does that mean you have to be raised with all these things to be wise?

Yesterday I had lunch with “M,” a beautiful young black woman, offering to help her map out ambitious professional goals for the next 7 years. (Is 7 a lucky number?). She’s been here in America less than 2 years. Already she has a small business with plans to grow it, selling healthy home products and services she believes in. I think she’s onto something that could really work.

“M” was born poor in Africa. Her mother passed when she was 4. She has no recollection of her childhood to that point. She never met her biological father until she was 20. She lived and was moved around between relatives and families, in living situations filled with uncertainty. And yet, she completed high school with good grades, earned a Bachelor’s degree in Bilingual Studies, and a Masters in Business Administration. She speaks 3 languages fluently and gets by in a fourth. She has worked menial jobs, been a teacher, and an educational manager, teaching others to teach.

“M” is wise beyond her years. She’s adapted, overcome and succeeded more times than I can imagine. She’s articulate, inspiring and presents well. Where did her wisdom come from?

That matters not. What matters is that she – we – all have the capacity to be wise in ways that serve purpose for ourselves and others. We’d all be the wiser with more wisdom in our lives, our society and our world. 

Authored By: Bill Atkinson, Managing Director