"Teach us to make the most of our time, so that we may grow in wisdom." - Solomon the Philosopher
It is said that old is gold. Yes, old is incomparably priceless and inconceivably graceful.
Quite frankly though, despite its glee and glam, old is oftentimes seen as bleak and weak - lacking the iridescent sparkle of life compared to youth which is deemed blissful and powerful - ever-bearing infinite exuberance. It's no wonder therefore why old is 'discarded' while youth is rewarded - talk of targeted retrenchment for the 'fossils' to bring in the 'new blood' in organizations.
Yet, there's something about growing older that's fascinating and terrifying in equal measure. And this weird feeling creeps in subtly but surely with each passing day. Yes, growing up is associated with adulthood rewards such as independence, getting a livelihood, and pursuing your dreams (or should we just say doing any work that's available just to make ends meet until the stars align for you and maybe, just maybe you can follow your dream even at 75?)
Still, growing up also redefines one's concept of time as no longer ad infinitum - endlessly existing
in perpetuity as we thought as kiddos. As a young adult, each passing day is a step closer to retirement age. One day you are 25, happily single, trading bitcoins and gleaning over memes; The next, you are 65, a grandparent with no sizable assets or a decent home, and struggling to make ends meet.
If you are keen enough, you'll note that the old are insightful and sometimes resentful - Just take a moment to hold unhurried conversations with anyone between their 50s and 90s. Most of them spew wisdom. Why? Because they've experienced life through varied prisms: As a student, employee, parent, grandparent, and citizen. Some though are full of regrets, not because of the opportunities they pursued and didn't work out but because of their risk averseness when young.
At a point in time when they should have taken leaps of faith to purchase cheap land in remote areas which is now worth millions, they lay back in a wait-and-see attitude; Instead of switching jobs to maximize their earnings and build generational wealth, they simply stuck up with their first employers hoping to reap greatly on account of their loyalty, only to be unceremoniously dismissed due to government-led structural reforms which were induced by external factors beyond one's control; Others decided to forego once in a lifetime opportunities to further their studies abroad because they were in love and wanted to marry first. The twist? They experienced premium tears and were left high and dry by the 'angels' they were so willing to sacrifice their dreams for.
You see, youth is idealistic - remember those picture-perfect plans you had after finishing high school? The timelines for when to complete campus, secure a job, get married, retire, and travel the world? Then shock on you: the quarter-life crisis has seemingly unraveled hell-like fury and you feel like life doesn't make sense at all.
Oh yes, youth is grossly unpredictable - a period of untold mental agony and innumerable mental calculations ever comparing the expected vis a vis the 'reality on the ground.' As a consequence, the softness and innocence of youth fades as one grows up and is seemingly replaced with toughness and sturdiness - the prerequisites for survival in an adult world. No wonder many studies have indicated that the mental health of the young is in jeopardy for anxiety, depression, and related conditions sadly persist.
But all this notwithstanding, here's why old still remains enticing and scintillating. it is realistic. Unlike the youth who are boldly cocksure, readily accessible, and easily gullible, the old are calmly hesitant and deeply contemplative. Those who have well advanced in their years have seen many things, made many mistakes, and ain't easily enticed or carried away by the low-hanging fruits. Hence, old is sometimes cold and offish - lacking time for the chase and play. "Cut out it, mate," they say, understanding that life is serious business and that its trajectory isn't always easily malleable especially when you make grave mistakes.
Today's take home is simple: At every stage of life, live it out simply and intentionally. Life is not a matter of reeling year after year in denial claiming to be 'sweet 16' and 'forever young'. Appreciate what each stage of life has to offer. As the great Danish Philosopher Sören Kierkegaard taught us, "Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards." Two, appreciate the old in your life and society. Despite not texting coherently as your peers or being tech savvy, virtually all of them are life-smart. Tap into their intelligence, and draw lessons from their experiences to avoid repeating the same mistakes. Lastly, let the older ones believe in the youth and grant them opportunities to take on new responsibilities. All the young need is just a little push on their backs, not to break but to push them out of their comfort zones into the pathways leading to success and excellence.
Vivre la vie. Live life.
Cheers, good people.
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