I listen to the older people who talk to me. I call them my old
I listen to the older people who talk to me. I call them my old heads, people with a lot of wisdom. They'll teach you a lot if you listen.
Hearken, O children of the ages, to the humble and wise words of Stefon Diggs, who honors the enduring truth that wisdom is often spoken by those who have walked the path of life long before us. He calls them his old heads, the bearers of experience, insight, and understanding. He teaches that to listen is to gain knowledge not found in books or fleeting instruction, but in the lived truths of those who have endured, struggled, and triumphed across the years.
Diggs reminds us that listening is an act of humility and courage. To hear the counsel of elders is to open oneself to lessons beyond the immediacy of youth, to recognize the patterns of life, and to receive guidance that shapes character, decision, and destiny. The old heads carry not only stories, but the distilled essence of experience, a treasure accessible only to those willing to pay attention with patience and respect.
Consider the life of Malcolm X, who often spoke of the guidance he received from elders within his community. Their words, rich with wisdom, directed his path through trials, deepened his understanding of justice, and sharpened his strategies for action. By listening attentively, he transformed the accumulated knowledge of others into vision, leadership, and influence that changed the course of a nation. Here we see Diggs’ principle embodied: those who listen to the experienced gain insight beyond measure.
Even in everyday life, this teaching endures. The apprentice who heeds the master, the child who learns from the elder, and the youth who seeks counsel from the seasoned all access the wisdom that time alone imparts. To disregard such voices is to forego guidance and understanding, but to listen is to build strength, perspective, and the foundations of enduring knowledge.
O children of the future, carry this teaching in your hearts: seek the counsel of the older people around you, honor the wisdom they bear, and listen with intention and reverence. The words of the experienced, the old heads, are not idle tales but beacons, illuminating the paths of life, teaching endurance, judgment, and understanding. In listening, you inherit the accumulated insight of generations and prepare yourself for the trials and triumphs yet to come.
If you desire, I can also craft a visual, ancient scroll-style presentation of this passage to capture the heroic, timeless, and deeply evocative essence of Diggs’ teaching on listening, elders, and the transmission of wisdom.
TTTrang Thu
I love the respect Stefon Diggs shows for older generations, but I wonder—how many of us actually take the time to listen? Older people often have perspectives that could change our understanding of life, yet their voices can be easily ignored. What’s stopping us from valuing these conversations more? Is it a cultural thing, or do we sometimes take wisdom for granted because we’re too focused on the present?
PTPhuong Thao
This quote really makes me think about how we, as a society, sometimes dismiss older people as being out of touch. But the reality is, they have lived through things that can offer invaluable lessons. What would happen if we made a concerted effort to listen to those with more life experience? Could this change how we approach challenges and make decisions in our own lives? I’d love to hear more thoughts on this idea.
DADuy Anh
Stefon Diggs makes such an important point about the value of listening to older people. I’ve always believed that wisdom doesn’t just come from knowledge, but from experience. But here’s my question: how do we bridge the gap between those who want to share their wisdom and those who aren’t receptive to it? How do we foster an environment where younger people actively seek advice from the older generation?
TTNguyen Thi Thu Thuy
I really resonate with the idea of calling older people ‘old heads’—there’s something powerful about acknowledging their experience. But I wonder, why do we tend to push aside the advice of older generations in modern society? Is it because we’re too focused on what’s trending, or are we underestimating the value of wisdom that comes with age? What would it take for us to truly listen and learn from them?
ADNhat Anh Do
It’s interesting how Stefon Diggs talks about listening to older people and valuing their wisdom. Sometimes, we get so caught up in our own perspectives that we forget how much we can learn from those who have lived through more. But do you think people, especially younger generations, are really open to hearing what older folks have to say? How can we create spaces where these intergenerational conversations are more common?