The Bridge Between Youth and Elder

Should this be the time of my life? Am I entering the years of my prime? These are the questions I find myself asking as I sit surrounded by people of all ages. It is a surreal realism when I can feel the age difference and then reflect to my own previous state of being back from my younger adult days.

Okay, so I’m not that old yet. Just pushing thirty, but being surrounded by fresh new adults is a reality check. I am on the 9th hole while they are on about the 4th. I can only imagine what it is like for the older generation living on the 16th or 18th hole. The ripe folks who have been through what I’m currently going through times a few and have seen or been through what I can only read about. I can’t express the amount of profound respect I have for my elders. Perhaps it was learned from the way that I was raised or just the great ability to empathize with different people. Probably both. My parents reminded me at every given opportunity to respect my elders. Also, I know that I will be and currently am an elder to some people. I would definitely appreciate that same respect from the younger generations.

Now don’t think for a second that I don’t hold a great respect for the younger generation(s) of adults by any means. I know that some are awesome and every person is different. Plus, I think some that I have met are super sweet. I have been amazed at how open-minded and friendly younger people are with me. I think it is in their nature, also the way our society has changed, and perhaps even the respect that they carry for their elders. I know that for younger people, it is so hard to receive respect because many older people are like, “You are so young and haven’t lived yet. Just wait until you’re older.” And yes, just wait until you’re older is a valid statement that can only be proven by age. But to assume that a younger person hasn’t lived or been through anything in their lives is an ignorant assumption. In fact, I sometimes wonder how some older people have not either learned or taught themselves compassion or empathy.

Throughout my years, I have noticed that the older I get, the more I reflect on the past, the present and sometimes, mainly for the sake of wanting to better myself, the future. I believe that it grants insight which allows me to better communicate or empathize with people of all ages. Right now, I’m on the bridge between ages, still moving slowly forward as we all are headed to the other side. I try to remember each person that has had any impact on my being as well as anyone I may have impacted, positively or negatively. Each person is unique and special in their own way. In every person that I meet, there is something great about them.

Right and Wrong

I’m trying to understand why as humans, we judge and react the way that we do.  It’s truly strange how a person can do good & be good for so long, but when they make a mistake or a short spiral of mistakes, that is what they are judged on.  There is that saying, “You can not right a wrong”.  So how is it that you can so easily wrong a right?  This truly begs the question, “What is wrong and what is right”?  This leads me to think that it is based on what you believe.  Just like fact can be proven, and an opinion is just someone’s judgement.  So in a way, the answer to that question, “What is wrong and what is right”, is just asking what your personal opinion is.  The fact can be found by seeing how it affects others.  The fact is that you’ve either made someone happy and/or sad.  No matter how right something may seem to someone, the fact that someone else has been affected by their words or actions in a negative way, makes it notably wrong to the affected person.  For those who are not directly affected and who know that side or reasoning behind it, makes it seem okay to them.  The lines are so blurred, it’s very hard to know the difference.  Especially when sometimes you can be so easily clouded by your own perspective and experiences.  This thought has encouraged me to see that it is all gray.  There truly is no black and white.  This leads me to an entire whirlwind of thoughts about how we are judged after life, if we are judged at all.  Let’s face it, we are all judged and we all judge based on our own beliefs and personal experiences and of those closely woven into our lives.  So how does one, a said being, judge each of us if they are able to see all of our actions and words from all of the different perspectives in life? Hm, that’s a damned good question.

Coin Toss!

The way in which I see people is sort of the way I see a coin.  There are two different sides.  One side is face up and the other is face down.  For some people, they are a coin in a constant spin.  Not showing face up or face down but both. Or a mixture of the two. Perception is the key.

It is much like seeing a stranger from a far and thinking of how perfect they are, oblivious of their skeletons.  Blind to all of the flaws and imperfections of their being.  Holding such high expectations and standards can cause bewilderment.  The true nature of people are finally unveiled to reveal the dark truth inside of  human beings, leaving one in jaw dropping disappointment.

Acceptance is usually practiced in the early stages of relationships (friendly or intimate).  But as time persists and the ugly slowly spills out of ourselves, judgement tends to follow.  Eventually, you become blind to the goodness inside of people and only see the inadequate actions.  Some people are so blinded by the flawed behavior of others that they become engulfed with rage and disgust.  They no longer see the perfections that their ignorance allowed them to see in the first place.

In retrospect, we are all defective. It is the unknowing of one’s identity to expect perfection which in turn is obliterated by reality.  If only we could all just accept each other for the very imperfect creatures that we are.  There would surely be a lot less detest in this world. 🙂