Youth or Wisdom – It’s a Trade-off!
I’d Rather Be Smart
Sometimes I feel totally out of touch with the younger generation. I don’t recognize their popular singing groups or understand rap music. Their fashion statement has everyone looking alike, and Generation X’s view on life is so foreign from my own. But, I do envy youth’s energy. They’re nocturnal and I’m ready to retire at 10! While I know the expression age is “only a state of mind”, I acknowledge only older adults use it. Maybe it’s my way of handling the aging process. I will admit, however, that if I could be firm & fit like those young, female hard bodies that work out at my gym I might trade my years of experience for their figures! Who said life is fair?
On the other hand, there are some advantages to no longer having to raise children, turning gray (and using that as my excuse for forgetting), and years in the classroom of life experiences that teach us not to take it too seriously. It’s a bonus to travel and not be accountable to anyone but myself, to get senior citizen’s discounts, and to feel confident in my decisions. (We do learn from our mistakes over time) Being older is fun. We get to witness the direction of young lives, shake our heads to their naivety, and re-visit our youth through their experiences.
In my treasured role as a grandmother, I sit on the floor more, play with toys and toes, read ABC books, watch children’s videos, and make every experience a “Kodak” moment. I joke that my grandson, Eli, is the only person on the planet that can keep me from doing what I thought was important! Wisdom tells me that time is precious and life is fragile. When you’re young, you’re willing to waste time, but as the years pass, you want to linger over each minute of every day. Sure I’d like to have the energy and the laisez-faire attitude associated with youth. Yes, I’d like to have more years ahead of me than behind me, but would I be willing to “give up” what I’ve earned learned? No way. I wear my silver hair proudly and when a young man offers to give up his seat or open a door for me, I gladly accept. Now that’s a bonus, for sure!
