An elderly man went to a doctor with multiple complaints.
"I see spots before my eyes," he said.
"It's due to old age," said the doctor.
"No food agrees with me," said the man.
"That too is due to old age," said the doctor.
"The digestive system becomes weaker as we grow older."
"My back is giving trouble," persisted the man.
"Sometimes the pain becomes unbearable."
"Old age," said the doctor.
This was too much for the man.
"Why do you go on saying 'old age, old age'," he screamed.
"If you cannot cure me, say so. I'll go elsewhere."
"See how easily you lost your temper," said the doctor.
"That is another characteristic of old age."
May be, a person is always startled when he hears himself seriously called an old man for the first time. It is sort of harmless to pass comments about one's age, I guess. And many of us joke about it harmlessly quite often. But still many of us also have a deep unease about our age and our aging.. an unease that can hold back our self-esteem and our happiness. For many of us for many reasons, denying our age is a harmless game.. isn’t it? As we age older and as we get further away from birth and closer to death, we are sensitive about our age. It's just a way to share our unease of growing older with people around us. Is our happiness, self-esteem, our zest, sense of daily joy and our life satisfaction is all at stake as we age? Aging gracefully should be a matter of self-esteem for all of us as age is important. Denying one's age, or even being sensitive about it, can put one out of action. Our years, our heritage, our scars good or bad are all part of who we are. They should be a matter of comfort and pride and even our joy. I don't think we should let happiness elude us, which we do so when we feel embarrassed, guilty, or even shy about any part of who we are.
There was a time when the elders were revered, because they bore knowledge, wisdom and traditions which were carried down from generations. These days I feel we settle for just knowledge. Am I too old-fashioned, not exactly.. I am just stating a fact. Youth has its own beauty, advantages, joy and reasons to be admired of. So, does the middle age. In fact, every age is important and every age is beautiful. Whatever age we are, right now that is the perfect age for each one of us..the perfect age to be proud of.
They say that age is all in your mind. We do not grow old merely by living a number of years, but we grow old by deserting our ideals. Just a few months back, I needed to change my job. Having secured a wonderful job since then I feel that at the time, I was a little bit stupid, confused and indecisive as I was during my teens.. and worrying because of my age.. whereas all I wanted to be wise, self-confident and assertive as I was during my mid twenties. My dear and near ones did not let me give up my enthusiasm amidst my confusion and indecisiveness and today I am truly indebted to all of them. I thank the Almighty for everything.
On a lighter note, well, the other day, I did detect a single silver delicate hair on my left eye-brow!! To my plain eye it was invisible but wearing my spectacles yes.. Now.. don’t expect me to let the cat out of the bag totally.. I am just…. As Mortimer Collins quotes “A man is as old as he's feeling, A woman as old as she looks”. I will leave it to your imagination!!
"I see spots before my eyes," he said.
"It's due to old age," said the doctor.
"No food agrees with me," said the man.
"That too is due to old age," said the doctor.
"The digestive system becomes weaker as we grow older."
"My back is giving trouble," persisted the man.
"Sometimes the pain becomes unbearable."
"Old age," said the doctor.
This was too much for the man.
"Why do you go on saying 'old age, old age'," he screamed.
"If you cannot cure me, say so. I'll go elsewhere."
"See how easily you lost your temper," said the doctor.
"That is another characteristic of old age."
May be, a person is always startled when he hears himself seriously called an old man for the first time. It is sort of harmless to pass comments about one's age, I guess. And many of us joke about it harmlessly quite often. But still many of us also have a deep unease about our age and our aging.. an unease that can hold back our self-esteem and our happiness. For many of us for many reasons, denying our age is a harmless game.. isn’t it? As we age older and as we get further away from birth and closer to death, we are sensitive about our age. It's just a way to share our unease of growing older with people around us. Is our happiness, self-esteem, our zest, sense of daily joy and our life satisfaction is all at stake as we age? Aging gracefully should be a matter of self-esteem for all of us as age is important. Denying one's age, or even being sensitive about it, can put one out of action. Our years, our heritage, our scars good or bad are all part of who we are. They should be a matter of comfort and pride and even our joy. I don't think we should let happiness elude us, which we do so when we feel embarrassed, guilty, or even shy about any part of who we are.
There was a time when the elders were revered, because they bore knowledge, wisdom and traditions which were carried down from generations. These days I feel we settle for just knowledge. Am I too old-fashioned, not exactly.. I am just stating a fact. Youth has its own beauty, advantages, joy and reasons to be admired of. So, does the middle age. In fact, every age is important and every age is beautiful. Whatever age we are, right now that is the perfect age for each one of us..the perfect age to be proud of.
They say that age is all in your mind. We do not grow old merely by living a number of years, but we grow old by deserting our ideals. Just a few months back, I needed to change my job. Having secured a wonderful job since then I feel that at the time, I was a little bit stupid, confused and indecisive as I was during my teens.. and worrying because of my age.. whereas all I wanted to be wise, self-confident and assertive as I was during my mid twenties. My dear and near ones did not let me give up my enthusiasm amidst my confusion and indecisiveness and today I am truly indebted to all of them. I thank the Almighty for everything.
On a lighter note, well, the other day, I did detect a single silver delicate hair on my left eye-brow!! To my plain eye it was invisible but wearing my spectacles yes.. Now.. don’t expect me to let the cat out of the bag totally.. I am just…. As Mortimer Collins quotes “A man is as old as he's feeling, A woman as old as she looks”. I will leave it to your imagination!!
In the central place of every heart
there is a recording chamber.
So long as it receives a message of
beauty, hope, cheer, and courage –
so long are you young.
When the wires are all down
and our heart is covered with
the snow of pessimism
and the ice of cynicism,
then, and only then,
are you grown old.
~Douglas MacArthur
there is a recording chamber.
So long as it receives a message of
beauty, hope, cheer, and courage –
so long are you young.
When the wires are all down
and our heart is covered with
the snow of pessimism
and the ice of cynicism,
then, and only then,
are you grown old.
~Douglas MacArthur
Wonderful Evelyn...this is brilliant
ReplyDeleteThank Kau.
ReplyDelete