Wisdom, says Sternberg, is the tacit knowledge that lets a person balance two sets of things. First, wise people are able to balance their own needs, the needs of others, and the needs of people or things beyond their immediate interaction (e.g., institutions, the environment, or people who may be adversely affected later on). Ignorant people see everything in black and white--they rely heavily on the myth of pure eveil--and they are strongly influenced by their own self-interest.
The wise are able to seee things from others' points of view, appreciate shades of gray, and then choose or advise a course of action that works out best for everyone in the long run.
Aristotle says that being well or being happy is "an activity of soul in conformity with excellence or virtue." Aristotle wasn't saying that happiness comes from giving to the poor and supressing your sexuality.
Happiness Hypothesis Book,
The new (and seemingly quite pointless gay site) Fabulis has posed the question "Who's your real life hero?"
Here is my answer, which their site won't post - again - not quite sure WHY Fabulis, but maybe not SO Fabulis:
There are many people whose life path is heroic to me.
My dad and his siblings, for overcoming abject poverty, family violence, separation, foster families, abuse and yet all completing college, having successful careers and building middle class lives.
My father's mother, who made sure all of that happened.
The other day, though, my hair dresser told me her life's story -
Fled Vietnam at the age of 17 with her 13 year old brother in a small boat
Spent four years in Singaporean and Indonesian refugee "camps"
Injured in the camp so badly she could never have children
Finding a US church as a sponsor for her, her husband and her brother to enter the US
She and her husband working two full time jobs to put her brother through high school and college with no public assistance of any kind
Getting trained as a licensed hair stylist, working very hard until she and her husband had their own shop.
Still working hard, every day. Expecting no hand outs, having no complaints, feeling blessed by life.
She's here in this country, she's a citizen, she's employing people, giving them a place to work, her brother is married, has children and has an upper level career -
She's a hero. Every day.
I hope she doesn't go to Arizona now.
The wise are able to seee things from others' points of view, appreciate shades of gray, and then choose or advise a course of action that works out best for everyone in the long run.
Aristotle says that being well or being happy is "an activity of soul in conformity with excellence or virtue." Aristotle wasn't saying that happiness comes from giving to the poor and supressing your sexuality.
Happiness Hypothesis Book,
J. Haidt
The new (and seemingly quite pointless gay site) Fabulis has posed the question "Who's your real life hero?"
Here is my answer, which their site won't post - again - not quite sure WHY Fabulis, but maybe not SO Fabulis:
There are many people whose life path is heroic to me.
My dad and his siblings, for overcoming abject poverty, family violence, separation, foster families, abuse and yet all completing college, having successful careers and building middle class lives.
My father's mother, who made sure all of that happened.
The other day, though, my hair dresser told me her life's story -
Fled Vietnam at the age of 17 with her 13 year old brother in a small boat
Spent four years in Singaporean and Indonesian refugee "camps"
Injured in the camp so badly she could never have children
Finding a US church as a sponsor for her, her husband and her brother to enter the US
She and her husband working two full time jobs to put her brother through high school and college with no public assistance of any kind
Getting trained as a licensed hair stylist, working very hard until she and her husband had their own shop.
Still working hard, every day. Expecting no hand outs, having no complaints, feeling blessed by life.
She's here in this country, she's a citizen, she's employing people, giving them a place to work, her brother is married, has children and has an upper level career -
She's a hero. Every day.
I hope she doesn't go to Arizona now.
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