In the old days, information was harder to obtain. As we get older, we are more likely to experience new things and run into new information. That’s where the whole getting mature thing came from. Back then, the average person was limited to the information of those around them. Anecdotal evidence was the most popular. Of course, there were libraries and other ways to obtain information, but, I believe, not many were that interested in going out of their way to do so.

The internet has given us an abundance of information and versatility in exchanging ideas. Years ago, if someone was a farmer their whole life and another was a nomad traveling city to city, chances are, the traveler was wiser, regardless of age.

Key Points

• Being mature in this context means being well rounded and more aware about the world around us
• Being older doesn’t necessarily make someone more mature or wiser
• Wisdom should be defined by experience. With hands on learning maturity will grow quickly
• Being mature, or behavior for that matter, has more to do with background and experience than with time
• Information gathering is not experience, only the first stages of gaining experience
• There is experience that is gained with time, but only specific to the endeavor at hand, not over all life

Growing old Doesn’t Mean Becoming Mature

“The older I grow, the more I distrust the familiar doctrine that age brings wisdom.”
― H.L. Mencken

 

There’s no Such Thing as Stagnant Wisdom

The more someone is alive, the more likely they are to pick up a few tricks of the trade, right? True, but we have internet these days. The lifetime that it once took to get all the knowledge (bullshi’t and legit) that most older folks claim to have, now takes a fraction of that. Being mature to some people means having a ton of wisdom. All it really means is that you’re getting wrinkly. I mean, think about it. Can a computer programmer that graduated 30 years ago find a job with that knowledge now? No. It’s not because he’s stupid, he was probably a genius in his day.


Times change, things change. Some things become obsolete and some main principles remain. Methods change and people do too. A good example of some things that don’t change are principles. Problem solving can be refined, but the skill of problem solving is usually consistent.

How to “Mature” Quicker

By mature, of course I mean wisdom, or growing more knowledge. I feel there are three parts to this puzzle. The most important is learning how to solve problems. That can be achieved by learning how to smell bullshi’t from a mile away (being able to distinguish good info from faulty info).

Learning the scientific method and applying it to all information is a solid way to tackle problem solving. Now that you know how to decipher information, it’s time to hit the books (or internet) and gather information at whatever endeavor we’re after. Last but not least, it’s time to get our hands dirty and get hands on experience.

I’ll use riding a bike as an example. First we learn how to check sources and find information. Then we choose some quality reading material and learn all about bike riding and the mechanics of riding. Last, but not least, we’ll need to get on and practice, practice, practice until we get a feel for it. It’s trial and error at this point. Since you already did some reading, you have an idea of what you should be working towards and attempting to do. Now bike riding is a little more hands on than say cooking an egg, but it’s still knowledge. You don’t have to be an old man to become wise. Take everything with a grain of salt and don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty.

Age Fails & the Wise Win

Wisdom is correlated with old age because of life experience. Unfortunately, there are plenty of old people who don’t know shi’t and even more with very outdated information. It’s really hard to keep up with the times. The world is moving at a much faster rate these days than it has ever. Information travels around in an instant. People can cram 30 years of knowledge in 1 year. It’s all a matter of the individual, not the time that has passed. Stay sharp and learn young my friends!!

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