A Word about Wisdom: An Epilogue to "Things I have Learned about Life". by itsnoteasy

One year ago, I wrote a journal entry here of Things I have Learned about Life and I have since learned a couple more things.

Be careful in giving or taking unspecified wisdom.

Also, don’t give your relative who is younger than you by almost twenty years the credit for you giving up on your marriage and travelling to a different country to meet the girl you have fallen in love with through the internet just because the younger relative wrote some unspecific “wisdom” about “listening to your emotions” on her journal on some website. Especially don’t do this when said relative’s parents are going through a seperation themselves.

First, I want to clarify by what I meant by “listen to your emotions”. I didn’t mean, “Obey your emotions unconditionally”, or “Make all your decisions based purely on emotions”. I happen to disagree with the common sentiment of “Follow your heart” because I happen to think that the heart is a selfish beast, whereas empathy, reason and morality resides in the head.

When I said, “Listen to your emotions”, I meant more to acknowledge your emotions, don’t try to repress your emotions because they are unpleasant. Understand why you’re having those emotions, and yes, bring your emotions into your decision making, too, but not to necessarily base everything you do purely on what you feel.

I don’t appreciate anyone using it as an excuse to do something you were probably going to do, anyway. If you want to leave your life to find love with someone much younger, do that. If your marriage isn’t working, it isn’t working. I’m glad that you didn’t go behind your wife’s back, I appreciate that you were honest with her. I want you to find happiness. I hope you do.

But please understand that I had nothing to do with that decision, and please don’t say, “that baby relative of mine, she’s wise,” and use a random journal entry that’s about something completely different, anyway, as justification. Take moral responsiblity for your own actions, please.

For the record, this is old news and the only reason I’m writing it now is because it no longer bothers me and I’m past it. But at the time, I’m sorry, but you did make me a little bit angry.