Once, I was standing in a crowded street fair listening to a phenomenal 15-year old musician play the blues. A friend, who was a music teacher, leaned over to me and said, “he has an old soul”. Since then, I’ve heard a few other people referred to as old souls – people who are believed to have the wisdom of someone much older.

Today is my dad’s birthday. He is 87 years old. He’s got a lot of years behind him, and I think he’s a pretty wise man. Wisdom doesn’t just come with old age. It comes from knowledge and experience combined with a deep understanding about life and living, about relationships and connections.

Wise people see the whole. They  understand that life is full of ambiguity and that values are not absolute. They are self-aware. They have a deep connection to and awareness of their own history and the history of their families. They have common sense and use it.

Wise people are said to have a tolerance for uncertainty and an ability to accept situations for what they are. As a farmer, my dad faced uncertainly for 70+ years and accepted his fate with much grace. So, today’s #LiveWell2017 graphic is dedicated to my dad – in all his wisdom.

What do you think makes someone wise?