A farmer shouldn't be too wise.
This was said by a client today, who heard it when he was much younger from an old farmer who lived next door. He took it to mean that if a farmer gets too wise and spends his time thinking about many other things - he will get nothing done. And a farmer has to get things done. This came to mind due to the discussion we were having about comparisons.
We were (as we often do) talking about different conditions in the world and today about how their company has just finished their labour negotiations and sadly, he knows several people who will lose their job. But, he tried to soften this in some way by saying, there are worse things happening in other places of the world.
Totally true.
And it is common to compare to various other places as a way to make us feel better about our own conditions. Yet, I think that this is a slippery slope into complacency and degradation, because no matter how bad things get, it is likely that there is always somewhere worse.
We don't pollute as much as China.
So that makes our pollution okay.
And because there is somewhere worse, we have less drive to make things better in our own environment and ecosystem. Yet, if we compared ourselves to places that are in better condition than our own, then we are going to feel worse but likely have more energy to actually change things for the better. For example, my client compared the economic and social situation in Finland to what is happening around Israel and Palestine, but what he should be comparing it to are countries closer and more similar, like Sweden, Norway and Denmark - all of which are doing "better" in comparison.
Finns are pessimists.
According to my student, but I think that they have given up their pessimistic tendencies and actually become more optimistic. Because in the past, their pessimistic traits that had them believe the worst would happen, had them preparing for the worst, which meant that in general, things improved continuously. They used to compare themselves to Sweden and improve, and now they are comparing themselves to countries that are far worse in many respects. This means that Finland can fall a long way, and still be better than somewhere.
I believe that this is a position of wilful ignorance, choosing to take a global perspective of comparison to places that are worse, in order to take attention away from the degrading local conditions. This position gives a type of "ignorance is bliss" situation, where broken things go unacknowledged.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
But it is broken. Remaining unaware and ignorant of the breakage, doesn't mean it isn't there. And ignoring what is broken carries a high degree of risk. It is like building a beautiful house on the side of a mountain, ignoring the fact that it is an active volcano prone to eruption. It is not solid ground to live upon.
The pessimistic nature of Finns used to mean that things would continuously get better, and nothing was ever good enough. But once something is "good enough" it gets shifted into the "ain't broke" holding box, which means it doesn't improve further, until it is no longer good enough.
But real wisdom isn't in knowing and wondering about the world, it is in knowing what to do, when it needs to be done. The knowledge required from wisdom comes from experience and thought, but the true outcome of wisdom is improvement of the conditions. If things are getting worse, it is because wisdom isn't getting applied. The farm is failing.
The wisdom of the farmer is one of activity. It is about doing what is required to try and ensure a good harvest. This includes the growth part, but also the maintenance of tools and machinery, the understanding of the requirements of the crops and animals, and of course, improving processes to make things more efficient, effective, and better.
As we keep avoiding the degradation locally by consuming the news entertainment from the globe to make ourselves feel better, what needs to get fixed, doesn't get fixed. Not only this, it means that those who are acting locally, have more of a free reign to do as they please, without the oversight of people actually affected by their decisions and actions.
Knowing what is happening in the world doesn't make a person wise. And while it is possible to learn from the mistakes of others, the mistakes of others might not be applicable to the local environment. Apples and oranges are both fruit, but they aren't interchangeable in all situations. Wisdom is about knowing the properties, and how and when to apply them. But the most important part of wisdom, is in the application of knowledge and skill to make the situation the best it can be. Not the best it can be from a position of ignorance, because that is a best too. A best from the position of understanding.
You reap what you sow.
No matter what you sow though, if you don't maintain the field; if you don't fertilise, water and keep pests away, comparing an unmaintained field to the fallow one next door, doesn't improve the harvest.
There is little wisdom in comparison, unless it is being used as a tool of improvement. We can all improve in many areas, but we can't put our attention in all areas and focus our energy to improve them. So, we have to identify what our key areas are, where the most impact can be made, what is a requirement and a desire, and perhaps most importantly, what we are willing to forgo, and develop where we can. Comparison to the worst can tell us what not to do, but comparison to the better can provide direction.
Look to the future as a guide for direction. Not the past.
Rather than running from - we should be looking to move toward.
Where do we want here to be?
Taraz
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