LIFE COACH PEARL: WHAT ARE SMARTS?
In my closing tagline,their you have heard me say I wish you health, love, peace, and smarts at the end of my musings or podcasts. "Smarts", what are they? What does having "smarts" mean?
If you are "smart" enough to look it up in the dictionary or the encyclopedia, you may be as old, sorry, and seasoned as I am. My parents fostered a hunger for education, indeed for understanding. One of my earliest health and life coaches was the World Book Encyclopedia- the original search engine. I can still envision the 22-volume hardcover set of books, their rich blue bindings with silver and black script down their spines, stretched across the middle shelf in our family living room. I spent hours in wonder and exploration. I learned of the transformation from early man to the present day. I traveled to foreign lands. A thirst for knowledge was born that would follow me for the rest of my life. A shy and solitary child, I was catapulted above the confines of the segregated oppression of the South in the 1950s through these volumes.
I made my very first medical diagnosis at the age of 12 years old.
TMI ALERT! As a fifth grader, I experienced some intense itching in my rectum. It was a brilliantly sunny spring Saturday while Mama was shopping at the Jitney Jungle. Scratching vigorously with a damp wash rag, I retrieved a small white and wiggly worm. Horror! Shock! I was scared. What was wrong with me? Was I going to die? Immediately after washing the horrid little creature down the tub drain, I sprung for the “W” volume of the encyclopedia. Worms? Human worms? I am trying to remember now how I even began the search. But finally, I found my way to the page about "Pinworm."
It reads Pinworm, also called threadworm, which is a small roundworm. Pinworms are parasites. That is, they live in the body of other animals. They are about 3/8 inch (9 millimeters) long and have white bodies and pointed tails. Some pinworms infect horses and rabbits. One type, Enterobius vermicularis, commonly infects humans.
There it was—my answer. I raced on through the text...
Pinworms are not very harmful unless they are present in large numbers. In some areas, 10 to 60 percent of the children may have pinworms at some time. Doctors use drugs to treat infection caused by pinworms.
"Pinworm." World Book Student. World Book,2013. Web. 14 Apr.2013
Relieved that my investigation gave me answers, I was scared to tears. When Mom came home, she reassured me that I wasn't going to die. At the drugstore, the pharmacist recommended a vermifuge. I remember looking at that word on the label on the bottle of small white pills. Of course, I also had to go look it up. That was my first experience with physical diagnosis and treatment. "Smarts" can be as simple as a trip to the World Book Encyclopedia- my health coach in print. It is the only remaining reference of its kind.
"Smart" resources are readily available now with a quick internet search. I often remind patients in my practice that my recommendations come from something other than a Google search. Forgive my "old school," but I prefer AI not to become my primary care provider. The neuroscience of "smart" can get heavy. But putting it simply, being smart and intelligent are two different things. Being smart is how much you study or learn. Learning how to change old habits and move toward a happier you is a smart thing to do. That is what I help with as a coach.
Intelligence, on the other hand, is a natural ability. It is innate, making it easier to be smart. Psychologists and neuroscientists use IQ tests to measure reasoning and problem-solving. These tests and results vary depending on several factors, traits, and behaviors. I found a recent article in the Readers Digest Newsletter that I liked. It suggested eight traits associated with high intelligence. Neuroscientists discussed qualities that include - "An open mind, Big-picture thinking, Messy Spaces, Staying up late, Anxiety, A good memory, and Alone-time boundaries. Fischer, 2023".
The "smarts" I wish for you are akin to the phrases common sense, intuition, or old-fashioned mother wit. The smartest man I’ve known underwent his transformations through the Depression, Jim Crow society, and countless other challenges to survive until he was 94 years old. I am biased as he was my father. One of my fondest memories is watching his chest and head puff up as he declared, “ Yeah. I’ got a second-grade education, but I got two daughters with a doctorate degree!” That’s smart. Experience a transformation from stressed and stuck to joyous and free with the aid of a coach. That’s “smart”. Slow down and practice self-care. That’s “smart”. I can help with that.