When you give yourself, you receive more than you give. Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Those who are blessed with education and knowledge bear the responsibility of sharing them with others. If we do not use these gifts we are given, we lose them. If we use these gifts to make a difference, we enhance them, increasing our knowledge and abilities.
All the great work of science, the exploration of creation, progress in medicine and health, developments in technology, communication, and travel, and the rise in the standard of living have been made possible through the use of intellect. All ideas and creativity are built upon the foundations of those who went before us. They gave us the tools, the teachings, and the skills to create and to pass on our creations to future generations.
Along with the fruits of your intellect, wisdom is a great gift to share with adults and children. Wisdom is a combination of knowledge, experience, and clarity. Some faith communities describe wisdom as the power of discernment. Ultimately, it is the knowledge of how to use your intelligence. When you share wisdom, you help people gain skills that allow them to learn on their own.
Both Azim and Harvey (and many people reading this book) had elderly relatives with limited education who were incredibly wise about many important aspects of life. For example, Harvey’s Uncle Russell never completed high school, yet he was a wise man, well-read and active in the world. He also demonstrated incredible generosity and humor — gifts to all those who knew him. Azim’s dad did not go to college, but he demonstrated his leadership qualities in business and voluntary organizations. He had gone to the University of Life, and learned from his experience because he had an open mind. Look around you. You may find people in your family displaying similar wisdom, even if they do not have a higher education.