“Sometimes the questions are complicated, but the answers are simple.”- Dr. Seuss I was reflecting on my job this past week, wondering what it is that calls me to do the work I do with the children in our school district. I was thinking about the secret ingredient that allows me to connect with children and young people who are often misunderstood and frustrated. Then I realized something that struck a deep chord within me. It is the wisdom that resides in our students that always draws me in.
There is a difference between academic knowledge and wisdom. Facts come from books and from things that have been figured out in advance. Wisdom comes from somewhere inside of us and is often polished and clarified by going through challenging experiences, or by making courageous choices that others are afraid to make. Wisdom requires life experience, or a willingness to speak from one’s heart. For students who learn differently, or who are born with a challenging physical condition, there is a wisdom born from overcoming hurdles that others might not understand. Regardless of a student’s outer conditions, they carry wisdom in their hearts and they light up when someone is willing to listen without judgment to their own unique brand of wisdom.
I am currently working with a young girl who is unable to walk. She was born with a syndrome that has effected her bones and joints. Recently she went through an intensive surgery to address some of those issues. What I love most about working with her is the sparkle in her eye and her amazing sense of humor. When we work together, I never think of her as disabled. There is a wisdom to her words and way of being that inspires me to live more fully. She is so full of life and so curious about the world around her that my own spirits are lifted with every session. Wisdom is something that unifies us all. If we take the time to honor and value one another, listening to the wisdom that each of us brings, the world becomes a place of connection and collaboration. Academic knowledge is too often used to divide and rank people based on their abilities in specific areas.
Wisdom is something that cannot be measured by academic testing, yet has a profound effect on the world around us. I love the fact that I get to spend my time encouraging young people to listen to their own wisdom, and to use that wisdom to find their way back into the flow of success. The response I get from my students is one of relief, because they know that I am seeing them for who they are and encouraging them to value the unique gifts they bring.
Throughout history, positive changes have come from those who were bold enough to follow their wisdom in the face of popular beliefs. Beliefs can be true or false, nonetheless they are often accepted as real. Wisdom is a living sense of what is true. Wisdom guided Einstein, Ghandi, and Martin Luther King Jr. Wisdom is a deep knowing that can be trusted to lead us through whatever challenges we are facing. It is here, in every one of us, and it is a wonderful feeling to tap into it and let us shine.
Think about the people in your own life, particularly those who you might not understand or get along with at the moment. Try to recognize their unique wisdom, find the ways that they view the world that you can learn from. This does not mean that you have to change your outer relationship with them. It is a matter of feeling the peace within that comes from respecting one another as wise beings, even if someone is not listening to their own wisdom at the moment. I believe that the greatest gift that we have to offer to the world in the world is the wisdom that lives in the heart of each person. Tapping into the gifts that are born of this wisdom makes the world brighter for everyone.
Edward Biagiotti is the Inclusion Specialist for Culver City Unified School District. He is also co-host of the popular radio show, Funniest Thing! with Darrell and Ed, live each week at 3 p.m. on www.Unity-OnlineRadio.org. Visit www.TappingIntoGenius.com for more articles and a free, inspirational parenting download.