I have long read the words of the Norse Sagas and Edda's around the fire in the long hall whilst sipping mead from a horn-cup and seem always to find relevant meaning so thought I'd share some with you; The quote and my interpretation. Naturally my interpretation or understanding may vary to your own, as it should be, so feel free to add your own thoughts in the comments section below if you like.
I don't actually have a Viking long hall, but I have a fire and mead so I'm mostly there. Either way, the reading is valuable. Also, I'm putting together a fleet to go raiding in Britain so need warriors and shield maidens; if you're interested apply below in the comments.
Wisdom is welcome wherever it comes from. - Bandamanna Saga
I'm a sponge, but I don't mean soft and squeezy; I mean that I voraciously soak up information and knowledge with a view to be better at what I do: Hobbies, job-function, relationships, mentoring. relaxing, recharging and in general just trying to be a better man, the best version of me. This last eludes me mostly.
I know a lot of things about a lot of things but know less than I know I will know and will never know all that I want to know. I'll never stop learning and you'll never hear me say I know it all - I believe that's a wise way to be of course, because no one does [Know it all I mean.]
I remember thinking about wisdom and it's relation to the passing of time many years ago however later in life I've come to learn that time doesn't bring wisdom, experience does. Knowledge does. Wisdom is simply experience, knowledge and good judgment combined I guess, and because those things take time to gain it's easy to simply say time brings wisdom; I disagree though because I know many older people who don't possess it, and never will; conversely many younger people who have some.
I've always had the ability to learn; and only rarely have I closed off to it through stupidity, pride, ego or some other valueless personality trait I subsequently worked hard at to eliminate. I'm not especially clever and have had to work hard to grasp some of the lessons, concepts and skills I have although I feel confident in my ability to see them, the lessons, and in my desire or willingness to learn and acquire knowledge through them.
Staying teachable throughout my life, even in cases where I hold vast amounts of knowledge and some wisdom, has brought greater depth to my life and what transpires in it.
My relationships are better - this is important to me - and I know when to end them also, walk away from negativity. I have more fun, less drama and strife. But more importantly, my life tends to be a little more rounded; complete although it will never be complete of course...I'll die without my life ever truly being complete I think; the same for most because what is complete?
The Viking quote above is very important I think, relevant and a critical one for most of us human-nutbags to comprehend. Wisdom is wisdom, no matter where it comes from.
I've learned so many things from people who have done the wrong thing, from bad people; those lessons can be just as valuable as those from paragons of society. We can read books from people like Richard Branson, Zig Ziglar, Epictetus, Stephen Hawking, Marcus Aurelius and the like...There's also great wisdom to be found in a fictional story like The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas for instance. All good value.
Conversely, what about the wisdom one can learn from the mother who lost a baby to miscarriage, the man whose mistakes caused the breakdown of his relationship, the child victimised and racially vilified. Every day people...But wisdom is still there to be found - It is truly all around us, every day; we just need to be open to it.
I think it's important to invite knowledge and other people's experiences into our lives, to continuously learn, be a sponge, and to release the ego or hubris that blocks it, to welcome its arrival. We can learn so much from those who have experienced that which we have not; whether it directly relates to us or not, such wisdom can often be advantageous...If we let it.
Well anyway, wisdom tells me I should shut the hell up right about now, besides, what do I know? I'm just a knucklehead trying to make his way through life as best he can.
What about you...This Viking quote, wisdom and its sources, what do you think about it and what are your experiences? Tell me below in the comments.
An Edda is a collection of poems based around Norse legends held within two Icelandic books of the 13th-century called the Poetic Edda and Prose Edda. Much of the understanding around Scandinavian mythology derives from them.
A saga is a story focused on Norse, Icelandic and Viking history, folklore and heroic achievement - Mostly recorded around the 12th and 13th century.
It's interesting to note that Vikings were much more than violent raiders who revelled in battle and conquest, that they had a culture rich in story-telling and poetry; The Viking poet was one of the most respected among their society and in the mead-halls throughout the Viking world they could be found retelling stories of conquest, the gods, heroes, lovers and history in general. Sagas and Edda's were also passed from father to son and mother to daughter - The collective history of the Viking people passed by word of mouth, not written and recorded.
They had runes and glyphs however these were reserved for ceremonial purposes - They didn't write their history, they told it through the Edda's and Sagas.
Without those two elements quotes are just words. Quotes are the wisdom in words of those who came before us and a wise person will seek that wisdom, determine how it may relate to them and embrace it.
Skol.
Design and create your ideal life, don't live it by default - Tomorrow isn't promised so be humble and kind
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