wisdom, cribbed

A friend of mine recently posted a list on his blog of all the things he had learned during his university career. The list contained 26 things, most of which made me say, "Yep, uh-huh, that sounds right." Some of the things I was inclined to disagree with, some I could not connect with but, on the whole, the list was stunning, in both senses of the word. It's one of those things whose value increases with the addition of each subsequent part, though they may not be able to stand strong along. (Is that what we mean when we say something is worth more than the sum of its parts? The greatness was cumulative - run with that.)

5) That people aren't always what you think. You'll probably never meet a shallow person. You just need to listen, and ask the right questions.

10) That the future is scary only if you hang on to the past. Change is a chance to keep what you have, and add to it. It is change that has given you what you have today.

These two points were the ones that made me say, "Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow." Those are like successive waves of realization, perhaps of things like: how intensely true it is, how well said (i.e. concise and precise) it is, the profundity, the mild rebuke, the maturity and then there's a moment of silence after the fifth wow to say, "Yikes - all of that in one thought."
Mad props to the author of these. I commend you on the sage and simplicity.