I used to think anyone older than me must be wiser. But sometimes, their advice didn’t land.

Age is a natural proxy for wisdom, but it's not always accurate.

Wisdom is a function of lived experience. While we all accumulate experiences as we age, wisdom is not a product of age itself.

I used to assume older people knew something I didn’t—some answer I hadn’t found yet.

That reverence feels almost hardwired—evolutionary, maybe even spiritual. Those who came before us are meant to guide us.

But the world’s different now. That instinct doesn’t always help.

Modern life offers an overwhelming number of paths. Our circumstances shape which ones we can actually take.

That means that someone who is further along on their path in life may know almost nothing about your path. Their wisdom may match only their experiences.

Not all wisdom is universal.

When we look to others for guidance, discernment matters.

Someone may be wise, but not wise in ways that serve your path. If their insight doesn’t resonate, that’s a signal—not a failure.