Wisdom within these walls harvested
by Joe Gschwendtner
Ah, the ironies of life. Take the contrast between age and youth. When young, we think we know it all and would fly to the moon if we could. When we get older, genuine wisdom has settled in—but we lack the energy of youth. If only youth could have our understanding. Mere tidbits of our wisdom find their way into circulation. Alas, a group in Castle Rock has found an entertaining solution.
Since 2008 “Wisdom Within These Walls” (WWTW) has been capturing life lessons from the seniors among us. After harvesting this crop stored within their minds through personal interviews, WWTW began staging the best advice in monologues presented by the Castle Rock Players.
The concept is brilliant, really, and the brainchild of Anne McGhee Stinson. While deconstructing executive success, McGhee Stinson, a productivity consultant, learned that life is lived not by script.
True success, a life of fulfillment, is the fruit of wisdom, much earned the hard way via life’s failures. Those who find their share of it will likely reflect back on a life well-lived. Fortunately, failure is not the only option for learning. We may also choose to collect the wisdom of others. In an effort to dramatize this, McGhee Stinson spearheaded WWTW.
McGhee Stinson’s prime example of WWTW wisdom is an 86-year-old Kansan who we’ll call Dorothy. Dirt poor, her mom could not afford to buy clothes. Dorothy’s fondest memory is a dress made from a flour sack with buttons of polished walnut shells. Today she keeps the walnut shell buttons in a jar. Her lesson: less is often more (making the most of what you have). Her struggle out of poverty and the lessons learned became the foundations of her life.
Don’t we as elders really crave those teaching moments for our children, grandchildren, and friends who suffer time and again? Regrettably, these opportunities seldom occur naturally. WWTW is changing that.
The next Castle Rock Players production begins on April 29 in Palmer Lake at the Tri-Lakes Center and then in November with a veteran’s version starting November 11. Tickets for April are available now at www.crplayers.org or by calling 303-814-7740.
Perhaps you know of a senior who would consider an interview?
