11 valuable things I learned from my Grandfather before he passed away.

I had a chance to ask my Grandfather this question several months before he passed away, “What makes a person wise and intelligent?” He replied with the following.

Wisdom is not just about knowing a lot of facts. It's not something a person can learn in a classroom or from a book. True wisdom is something he earns through his own life’s experiences and other's, his past mistakes, and making good choices.

My grandson, there are eleven things that often make people wise and intelligent, he said.

I listened closely with my heart and mind filled with curiosity.

First, my Grandpa said, a wise and intelligent person protects his thoughts and ideas. He does not tell the secret of his mind to anyone. He knows that the person who is his friend today may become his enemy tomorrow. He knows that trust can be broken and secrets shared can be used against him at any moment. That's why he does not tell his personal things, his weaknesses, and his secrets to anyone. An unwise person talks about his mind, his home and things that he should have kept secret. He also tells those things to his friends, relatives, and neighbors. Then, when bad times come the unwise gets cheated and betrayed.

Second, a wise and intelligent person is always learning. He knows that wisdom can be found in many different places, from the stories of others to his own personal experiences. He talks to everyone to gain insights from their experiences and tries to learn from them. He understands that a successful person in any field can summarize his own experience in a matter of minutes. Something which would otherwise take twenty years to learn if he undertake them himself. Therefore, a wise and intelligent person always tries to learn from the successes and failures of others.

Third, a wise and intelligent person tells others only when the task is done. Only a fool brags about the work even before it is started. A wise person understands that talking about work over and over again cools down the fire inside him to fulfill that work. Along with this, it is also worth understanding that what is the meaning of telling your future actions to such a person who is not part of that work? And if by mistake we tell that person about our actions, the one who does not want our goodwill, he will try his best to ensure that we are not successful in our work. That's why a wise person avoids the conspiracies of the enemies and obstacles in the work. He does not inform anyone before the work is over, and instead, surprises everyone by suddenly completing his work. This is why everyone revered such a person as well as respects him.

Forth, a wise and intelligent person doesn’t believe in rumors or blindly trusts anyone's words. He uses his intelligence and knowledge to verify things. He only makes decisions after thoroughly understanding the truth. No matter how sweetly someone talks a wise person will not believe his words until he sees the person's words and actions matching. In other words, a wise person is also a logical person. He relies on facts and evidence. He believes only in what he sees and hears. He pays attention to a person's deeds rather than his words. This is why he is less likely to be deceived.

Fifth, a wise and intelligent person values time more than attention. He understands that time is the only thing in this world that is limited. It cannot be increased in any way. When time is spent, it is gone forever. That's why a wise person treats his time preciously, and prioritizes his tasks. He avoids procrastination and laziness. He knows that procrastination is a mental illness that can prevent him from moving forward in life. Instead, he set goals and make plans to achieve them. He makes sure to use his spare time wisely by doing things that are productive and meaningful.

Sixth, a wise an intelligent person has no complaints against anyone. He understands that human beings are mistakes makers. This is why he has no trepidation about forgiving people. A wise person accepts the other person as he is. He understands that every person in the world is different from each other. Everyone's thinking and behavior cannot be the same. He respects other people's thinking and gives them their personal freedom. He offers everyone a chance to present his point of view and listens carefully to what the other person has to say.

Seventh, a wise and intelligent person does not give up after he fails. He uses his failures as a motivation to learn and grow. He doesn't rest on his glories or dwell on his past accomplishments. He knows that yesterday is yesterday, and that the future is made with today’s efforts. He does know that failure can make him sad for a while but it doesn't distract him. He knows that failure is just a lesson learned before success is achieved. It tells him about his oversights and shortcomings. He can learn from them and try to do better next time.

Eighth, a wise and intelligent person has a habit of taking responsibility for his own actions. When things don't go according to plan he doesn’t blame others. In its place, he look inside himself and try to find out what happened. He tries to work harder to complete the tasks at hand. A wise person never tries to escape by blaming others. If he made a mistake he will admit it in front of everyone without any fear or shame. He understands that only by admitting the mistake can it be rectified. Conversely, a fool will try to escape by passing the blame of his mistake on others. By doing so, the fool will never be able to move forward by correcting his mistake. He will keep blaming others for his life's failures.

Ninth, a wise and intelligent person talks to himself. He is more reflective. He thinks a lot, but his thinking is not imaginary or repetitive. He uses his thinking to find a solution to a problem, or to understand something more deeply. When he is contemplating and thinking he talks to himself. It is because his brain is working very fast, and he is thinking about things very deeply.

Tenth, a wise and intelligent person thinks about the future and talks in the present. He doesn't lose his temper until someone crosses his limits. He treats everyone with respect. He avoids making any promises that he cannot fulfill in the future. He thinks before speaking. He studies the consequences of his words. He doesn't say things in anger that will cause him trouble in the future.

Eleventh, a wise and intelligent person is so engrossed in his work and life that he doesn't care about what other people thinks of him. He doesn’t waste his time talking nonsense or talking bad about others. He rather uses his time to learn. He constantly looks for something new to read. He tries to learn things to improve himself. A wise person likes to do his own work. He does not like interference from others in his work. He prefers to do most of his work in solitude, and spends more and more time alone. He uses his time to write, read, and brainstorm. This is why a wise person has the ability to ask thoughtful questions. He talks on the basis of facts and not on the basis of beliefs and emotions. He is extremely curious and asks questions without fear. He does not let his confidence turn into pride either. He keeps on learning throughout his life. He keeps himself humble at all times. He is wise and intelligent.