Knowledge Over Wisdom or Wisdom Over Knowledge?

I am a stubborn woman. In many ways, that is a good quality, but it is also a hindrance. I have thought about what I would have told my younger self if I had had the chance. I am not sure anything I would say to a younger, more impulsive, and idealistic me would make a difference. I would not have listened. I am from the school of hard knocks.

I don’t take anyone’s word for anything. Most assuredly, I would roll my eyes and do things the way I want anyway.

I learn from trial and error. I can be presented with a scenario or an outcome, and I will always test the theory myself. I have always understood that what works for one person does not work for everyone.

I don’t think many people are so conforming that they do as they are told. Isn’t that why we have our own minds and lives? We make of life what we want. We try something, either succeed or fail, and move forward.

In my case, had I told myself I would marry someone who was not right for me, I would have gone above and beyond to prove them wrong. In the end, I would make the same mistake. I am sure of it.

This is the essence of man. We are presented with wisdom, but without the experience behind it, we tend to be deaf to suggestive input.

I saw that in my child when he was growing up. I often gave him advice or warnings about issues that were not right for him. I prefaced that advice with the caveat that he could take it and avoid what I had experienced with one decision or another, or not. He still made his choices and found things out for himself.

It’s the old adage. “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.”

That right there is about this very issue.

As a parent, you impart your experience and wisdom, hoping they avoid the pitfalls you faced, and then you pray or cross your fingers that a small part of it sticks. That is all you can do. In the end, if they want to take it, they will; if they don’t, they attend the school of hard knocks, as many of us do. It is not always a bad thing.

Sometimes, making mistakes is the only way to learn to make better choices. That is how I learned.

I don’t think I would tell my younger self much more than to enjoy life and the good things in it. I would tell myself to hold on to laughter and lightheartedness. There will be many unfortunate things in life, but let them roll off you and let them go.

I would not warn myself of anything. Think about it. If telling myself about all the flubs I would make in the future actually changed the decisions that led to them, then everything after would change, right along with that. I know I would not want that at all.

I love where I am in life. I love the life I have built with my family. I love my son and my husband. I would hate to lose all of that because of a future foretelling. No, I am fine with what has already happened.

The past is long gone. I learned a great deal from it, and I like who I am now because of what I lived through. Knowledge is not wisdom. I’ll take wisdom, hands over fist, over knowledge, to avoid an experience that would make me wiser. Every time.

Past self, no worries. I won’t tell you anything that will steer you away from the path you will follow later in life. Every decade will have its challenges and pleasures; its memories, good and bad. Live life wisely and enjoy the ride.

(Published by Draft Era Publications on Medium, June 2026)

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