Did you know we are all supposed to get wiser as we get older? How’s that working for you?

Opportunities present themselves daily, minute by minute, for us to make a choice, to choose a direction, even to have a meal. How do we recognize what is wise and what is otherwise?

How do we make wise decisions? Blindly follow others, knock on wood? Wait for a groundhog prediction? That hasn’t worked for me.

We can worry and stress over the price of gas, we can grumble and complain about things that are out of our control, or we can find a way to ride the “No Stress Express.”

Worry is worthless. It cannot change the past or control the future. All it does is mess up the “right now.”

We can get caught up in things that won’t even matter in a week, let alone a month or a year. Fear and doubt keep us from making the wisest choice for the present moment.

We can begin by asking ourselves: Will this choice bring greater good to me and the people around me? Which choice will bring more peace, more love and more kindness to my world?

That is the beginning of learning to live wisely.

For me, that comes when I turn my focus from what attracts worry to the highest and best of nature and humanity around me. I listen to beautiful music or wander through nature or work with my hands.

But the path to wisdom doesn’t end there. Wisdom grows when we embrace the full spectrum of life – the challenges, the uncertainties and the unexpected joys. It comes when we stop seeking perfect answers and start trusting ourselves to respond with courage and compassion.

Wise living doesn’t mean having it all figured out; it means being willing to show up, to stay present and to make the next best choice, no matter how small.

As I reflect on my own journey, I’ve realized that wisdom often whispers instead of shouting. It’s found in quiet moments of clarity, in the grace of letting go and in the courage to try again.

So, here’s to all of us navigating life one choice at a time. May we keep asking, keep learning and keep reaching for the kind of wisdom that lights the way – for ourselves and for others.

The Rev. Linda McNamar is a Laguna Woods Village resident.