I wrapped up a 5-week course through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at the University of Pittsburgh: Between Cultures and Selves: Wisdom from the In-Between.
We explored questions such as: Where does wisdom come from? How does culture shape the way we see the world? How do we understand and express ourselves? What does it mean to belong?
OLLI participants are adults age 55+, and many were in their 60s, 70s, and 80s. When I first designed this course, I had a feeling I might be the one learning the most. I was sitting in a room filled with people who had already walked through seasons of life that still lie ahead of me. And I was right.
I've carried a quiet picture of the kind of person I hope to become someday. When I become a grandmother, I hope to be someone who meets people with gentleness, whose thoughts remain flexible, whose actions carry a sense of calm, and who can hold life's joys and hardships with quiet strength and grace. That has always been the kind of elder I hoped to become.
Our conversations reminded me that becoming that person doesn't happen all at once. It happens little by little through listening, reflection, relationships, and learning from others.
What stayed with me most were the stories about family, friendship, loss, purpose, faith, gratitude, and the unexpected turns that shape a life. One of my favorite moments came at the very end when I turned the tables and asked, “What advice would you give me?” The responses were generous, thoughtful, and deeply moving.
Another conversation from our final session has stayed with me. We spoke about Memento Mori—the reminder that we are mortal and that our time is limited. Someone shared a simple phrase: Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. None of us knows exactly how much time we have. Rather than making life feel smaller, that realization can make it feel more precious. It encourages us to pay closer attention to the people we love, the values we hold, and the ways we choose to spend our days.
I left this experience feeling deeply grateful for the stories, perspectives, and wisdom that were shared so generously throughout these past five weeks. Our discussions about culture, identity, belonging, wisdom, and even mortality invited me to look at life with fresh eyes and to appreciate the beauty and complexity of the human experience.
Wisdom is not something we arrive at. It is something we continue discovering as we live. 🍋
What is one lesson life has taught you that took years to understand?
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