What's Smart Mean
I don’t mean the mnemonic acronym used in “Management by Objectives”. I did, however, start this post with the previous sentence so folks might say stuff like “Gee, this guy must really be smart” or “What the heck does that mean?” That’s what I’m writing about. Often we hear someone refer to another as “smart”. Maybe even “smart as a whip”. How about “Boy, she or he is brilliant”. “Wow, how intelligent!” I end up wondering what they mean, what’s the criterion and does that have to do with letters after their names?
Doing the math that gets us to Mars, figuring where to drill to remove a tumor and other stuff like that require intelligence and learning. I think of being smart as different from educated, knowledgeable or learned. Of course smart people can attain those things and I hope they do. I know some of us can be very smart and others, not so. We all can still be educated and gain knowledge. But since I have difficulty even defining the word, I wonder how important it is to be smart. And since I don’t know of anyone getting a second shot at life on this planet I think I need to make the best of what I have and recognize that being happy is way more important than being smart. (Though I’m smart enough to know it’s wrong to start a sentence with the word “but” or “and” I just did it and I’m happy.) That sounds a lot easier; no books, no homework no staying after school. Oh oh! Problem! What’s happy? Well, since I’m not able to define “smart”, am I intelligent enough to know what “happy” is or how to get there? I’m working on it and, over the last few years, I’ve worked very hard to understand what it’s all about. I know I never will but trying helps me. I’ve learned a few things. I learned I can be happy by doing the right thing for the right reason for someone in need whether they know it or not. I’m happy when I’m kind to someone especially if they’re hurting. I’m happy if I did something for myself so someone didn’t have to do it for me. Sure I’m happy if the Cardinals win the series or the Devils win the Stanley Cup but they’re not as deeply seeded as the happiness I’m trying to identify. I’m happy if I found the short cut to get my wife to her destination on time but I’m not so happy if I dropped her off in a mud puddle. That wasn’t too smart.
I’m sure there’s more to it but I’m at the Duh stage.
Mike