While most of us are receptive to “elder wisdom,” there’s never been a grand design for harvesting it. Unless you have a grand- or great-grandparent still living that you visit, there’s not often much access to the thoughts of our wisest, most elderly citizens.

But now, there’s ElderWisdomCircle.org! Last Sunday’s Washington Post ran an article about it. Hundreds of seniors respond to the questions of troubled people online. Questions like: “Should I tell my new wife about old flings?” get “elder responses” like this:

I never have understood why some people want to get into ‘true confessions’. Everyone has ‘baggage’ and the smart ones learn to deal with that baggage and ‘store it away’ in the proper compartment in their mind. Of course there are some who like to brag, others that listen to Dr. Phil too much, and others that just aren’t too bright and can’t keep their mouths shut…There is no need to bring in more complications.

What a great idea! It’s so great, in fact, that Beliefnet has decided to start their own collection of elder wisdom. Submit your quotes and stories here.