It’s obvious to say that we need not worry with regards to age, as there is nothing that one can do about it. It’s inevitable. So within being young should there be a rule to stay young? Well, growing older physically and temporarily at times is something we all have to do and putting it off is pointless.
All the things that we do know are not exactly the same as when we were in our 20s. I was reading the newspaper today and there was a story about a chap whom had taken his father backpacking in the Greek islands. His dad is 78 and he said that he had trouble keeping up with him. Now that’s staying young. There is a woman I know in her 70’s that describes how she feels the same inside now as she did when she was 21. And it shows outside. It’s something more than just staying young. It’s probably due to several things.
Who says you can’t try new tastes, new places, and new styles and come to have a “mind shift” in which you don’t just sit and do the same thing each and every day. It’s not going for safe options it’s being abreast of what is happening, not giving up things because one thinks they are not able to do it. If your young by way of age ~ pondering that one here myself ~ but one day you will probably come to ponder on it.
Staying young is the ability to be in a state of mind that takes on things in a manner that is enjoyable. Each person is different and each person has different situations going on in their own life – yet the ability to gain in the areas of life that one desires is something that only does come to be complicated. And so very often that complicated ponder is held close to the heart waiting to unveil itself with another – which leads to friendships, trust, and all that was mentioned before.
Today I had the pleasure of speaking to a man that runs one very great company. Within our talk we were sitting and sharing different thoughts with regards to work and what this company was doing and it lead into several other things in which we share. He loves photography, his girlfriend is from a city I used to live in and he goes there each month. And we left off with meeting up again during lunch. I asked him a question with regards to the people that he has working for him. And how he views the manner of society and where it’s going. He indicated to me that he has seen so many things that he really does not have any understanding of it all, but if I was to sit amongst it all he said that he is sure that I would come to a very quick understanding on how people seem to be, and added a few things and we had a laugh. We were not talking about the age of people but the way of people. Not in a cynical manner as this was a really good chap, he had started off working in one area and it lead into several other areas. As far as he was concerned - life is an easygoing thing. At the end of the lunch I was leaving and he asked me if I kept my camera with me. We both laughed, as it was something that we had in common, and within the hobbies and things that we take on, we both had something in common. A small worked if you ask me.
Being around the same age, when leaving his office I could see that he had a daughter – so he must have went through a divorce, but yet he moved past it. Why did he, probably there was no choice, why did he have an attitude as such – I think part of it was that he was comfortable in having a conversation on business which led into other things. Interesting enough his company is one of the largest companies that services commercial airlines in Internationally. But his life was not based on the company, it was based on his lifestyle. Hence, we all do have a common thread. Not everyone, but some of us within what we write. And how we tend to writing. As it’s all in the manner in how we approach things. Aside of that it seems that a cold front is coming - but within three months it shall pass.
I think how age affects us is all in our personal attitudes toward it. I have been fortunate enough to have met many "young" 60+ people. While their physical abilities varied greatly, they all seemed to have one thing in common....a wonderful attitude toward life. They had/have (as quite a few of them are still around and still young) a very active mind and have stayed interested in what is going on around them. Rather than ever have settled into one set, rigid way they are still very much open minded and interested in all the new things that time has brought into their lives. Rather than fearing, or fighting against change they seem to look forward to whatever comes next. Guess what I am trying to say is they seem to have stayed too busy living to worry much about what is appropriate for their age and just kept on keeping on with a very positive attitude.
ReplyDeleteBelieving in life, moving on and working around our physical challenges certainly help growing young as we get older. If the body says no to one activity, start a new one, learn in different areas. In my family, people live to very respectable ages, my grand-mother who has lived to be 104 has never been perceived as being old, and in her heart, she was still a loving and lovable woman. She used to love talking with people, and has been reading books and the newspapers until her last years to be informed. Le secret, aimer la vie! Great post Jack.
ReplyDeleteG’day Jack
ReplyDeleteTo me there is no doubt it is all in the mindset, how old is too old & who sets the limits? And once one has reached adulthood what makes something appropriate for a 25 year old & inappropriate for a 70 year old if they are capable & it is legal, or it is just their wish to give it a go, to me I would like to think I set my own standards. As a preteen I always thought of my parents friends as old, 50 years later that hasn’t changed, I still think the same except they don’t seem as old now as they did all those years ago. If we accept and work with or around our obvious limitations, there is no reason not to keep on exploring, experimenting & discovering every possible opportunity.
Exploring, experimenting & discovering is the manner in which I think we not only just do one thing I do believe it's the manner that we do several things within co creates and fortunate for each and everyone of us we have a means - and with that means once in a while I know I have to pinch myself and understand that what does make she world go around is really based on those three words.
ReplyDeleteEmbracing what we are and where we are going towards. Ironically, I posted a video of a gentleman that came from Pakistan. When you listen or if you are able to listen to him, he is very content with life. Why is that? Perhaps lives within what has been mentioned wtihin here.
Not all people I know are proud of aging. I'm only 31 but I have several close friends who are in their 60s. I love conversing with them coz I learn a lot from their experiences. I realized though that it isn't true that age ALWAYS brings wisdom. Haha! =) Thanks for posting this Jack. Your blogs are refreshing. I love 'em!
ReplyDeleteMy Grandmother lived to be 1 week short of 103 yrs old...as did her Mother. Her name was Grace and that she was...in every aspect of the word ~ pure Grace. My concerns are not that of getting older but,... being able to age with Grace. Beautiful writings you have here.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the older generation has something that we don't. Or maybe they had a community that was much more simplistic.
ReplyDeleteWho knows as we all live within the now. This is wrote a few days since I posted it - and here we have a major blizzard coming through. Everyone is staying inside and the temperature is -24c/-13 f.......I ponder how they survived during this in the 1940's. Just a thought.