Live Well, Live Wisely, Live Humbly

Copyright 2012: singeronthesand

Do you want to be counted wise,

to build a reputation for wisdom?

Here's what you do: 

Live well, live wisely, live humbly.

It's the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts.

James 3:13 [The Message]

Living well is a concept that everyone understands and hungers for.  Who doesn't want to live well?  Of course, are we talking living well financially, living well relationship-wise, living well career-wise...?  I think that most of us would agree that we want to live well in all ways, if that is possible.

Living wisely is also a construct that we can get behind and promote.  Wikipedia defines wisdom thus:

Wisdom is a deep understanding and realization of people, things, events or situations, resulting in the ability to apply perceptions, judgements and actions in keeping with this understanding. It often requires control of one's emotional reactions so that universal principles, reason and knowledge prevail to determine one's actions. Wisdom is also the comprehension of what is true or right coupled with optimum judgment as to action. 

I believe that most of us would like to be considered wise, and would like for wisdom to prevail in all of our dealings in life.

Living humbly, however, is a whole other kettle of fish.  Wikipedia defines humility as the quality of being modest and respectful - modest about me and respectful of you.  Most of society today defines humility in one word: weakness.  To be humble is to be walked on - a doormat, a wuss.  The world is all about being agressive, assertive, and in control. 

I have been reading a wonderful who-dunnit series by author Jacqueline Winspear featuring a most engaging heroine named Maisie Dobbs.  These novels are based in England during and immediately after World War I, and their historical richness and vivid characters make for excellent reading.  It is the character of Maisie herself, however, that keeps me coming back for more.  Maisie Dobbs is wise beyond her years and has fashioned a well-lived life through the influence of the characters who helped transform her from servant girl to career woman.  It is her humility, however, that I find really attractive in a mystery character.  Maisie is not a know-it-all who stomps through the landscape with aggressive swashbuckling.  Rather, she is a woman who could  be defined by the word respect: respect for her family, respect for herself, respect for her mentors, and ultimately, respect for her clients. 

My father advised me that I really don't have to constantly blow my own horn.  He advised me to be respectful to my elders and those in authority, keep my head down, be ready with an answer for the questions that would come, work hard, do my job exceptionally well, give 120%, and I would succeed wherever I went.  I've tried to live by that wisdom my entire life.