The Path - Week 8

Life’s path is curved;

Arcing across one’s lifespan.

No sight past the bend.

Crisis? What crisis! I've got wisdom. Week 8

Never had one! The crisis anticipation factor was definitely aroused by all my friends and family, but nothing of note ever actually transpired. There was a little episode of Porsche desire, but it came and went so quickly it barely made consciousness. It took but a moment’s reflection to conclude “…just what in the world would you do with that? There isn't a road built around here you could drive that in the way it was designed to be driven…”

Truth be told, my life proceeded along such full and interesting paths, I honestly had little time to reflect on whether I was facing a crisis of age or accomplishment. That is not to say things were always easy and crystal clear on this path; they were not; often it was more a crisis per day. But the path was always interesting, engaging and fulfilling.

There were often moments of wondering just where my life was headed, but it seems things pretty much took care of themselves, as long as I paid attention, worked diligently in the moment and listened to my intuition – a knack that was slow to develop. Doors closed and doors opened; often requiring courage and sacrifice to step forward. In retrospect, I’m pleased that I took those steps.

For many years there was an underlying current of fear; the fear of winding up on the street, homeless, penniless – an abject failure.  A fear that was rooted in an authoritarian upbringing so structured there were few decisions I was allowed to make. Tack onto that the oft heard pejorative “…you’ll never amount to anything…” Add into the sauce of my childhood, the parental ingredients of depression era kids in want and need; and their own childhood woo – woo made its secretive way into my subconscious. Took some time to understand myself in light of all that and I’m grateful for the degree of enlightenment to date. And, well, there was that another thing. So it seems there really wasn't a great deal of time to have a crisis; perhaps one day I’ll understand that it was a drawn-out string of crises; but I don’t believe that will be the case. 

I find agreement with Kessler’s perspective when he states, “…all people make psychological transitions and adjustments in the course of middle age; relatively few experience these as catastrophic.” As he states, my experience also includes divorce, being fired, and serious illness – and the awareness my birth year was becoming a part of my very distant past. My appreciation concerning all the turmoil, trouble, achievement and joys, was the understanding these events and vicissitudes were all a part of “normal” life experience – and it was my path alone and not comparable to the paths of others or theirs to mine.

So midlife crisis? Meh – not so much.

Gallagher’s closer regarding the onset of wisdom I found to be spot on. One may occasionally considers the prospect of “going back” in life and re-doing certain parts. ‘Prolly not; the premise is one will take along the accrued wisdom and apply patches to past situations. The premise is of course faulty, for I would be just as ignorant as I was the first time around.

I wouldn't trade where I am now for all the chances in the world to rewind for a re – do. I definitely find myself aligning with the “environment – minded” researchers who believe the influence of attitudes, interests and relationships provide a flexible model of adult development. Reflecting on my experiences, it is clear they strongly point to development and change that continually refocuses my understanding and perspectives of life and the world around me.

Baltes is correct in his assertion that the brain slows down biologically, as I can attest. But, I do use knowledge and information differently and more effectively. Exactly how these adaptive strategies operate, I cannot fathom; I unconsciously somehow rapidly apply experience and knowledge as situations unfold. And the outcomes often reflect that I am still learning.

I’ll close with an anecdote that illustrates the discussion of wisdom. My closest brother was a “back-seater” in an F-4 Phantom fighter jet. His title was Weapons System Office or WSO – pronounced wizzo. Or in their vernacular “GIB” – the guy in back. He flew in the Air National Guard, which has pilots typically much older who still fly. During combat fighter maneuvering, the crews experience punishing g-forces.  The older crews are not physically capable of keeping up with the maneuvering of the younger pilots. However, the older pilots will typically out maneuver their younger counterparts because they fly smarter – with the wisdom of lessons learned.