Almost ten years back there was a guest lecture at our college event. Usually these lectures are very boring. But that one was very remarkable. The lecturer gave many useful tips to succeed in life. I still remember the best sentence said by him "A happy life is the one that is lived wisely." How true!
We remember this throughout our lives. Our elders also teach us the same thing- be wise. But what happens when we touch fifty years of life? Do we remain as wise as we were taught to be? Are old people really the wisest ones?
Well, the answer is neither 'yes' nor 'no'. In old people, the wisdom depends on the level of acceptance of changes around them. If the acceptance level is too low, they turn out to be stubborn old people. If the acceptance level is at an optimum to high level, they become young-at-heart old people. Is it complicated? Let me exemplify it.
One old woman I know keeps on cribbing about everything. Pessimism has now become a way of her life. Unable to accept the changes of growing competition and technology around, that woman became adamant.
On the other hand, I knew an old lady. She was 93 years old when she died. She was one wise old woman. She had lost her husband almost 10 years back. But she kept herself engaged in her children, daughters-in-law and grandchildren. She was an honest social animal, who never left a single chance of socializing with anybody. She wore traditional Indian sari all her life. She also had conventional long hair to go along with the sari. But she never forced us to grow hair like hers. Instead she used to encourage us to stay smart and go in for a trendy hair-cut. "We never had such hair-cuts so easily available in our time", she said. Whether it was working daughters-in law, growing competition, eating out or friends coming in- she accepted it all. And stood there strong and wise!
Thus, to be happy one has to lead a wise life throughout, not just in the youth. And wisdom always lies in accepting the change or being the change you want to be. Because change will always remain.So it is intelligent to go along with it.
So, next time you see a stubborn old man, know that somewhere he has not accepted the change in his life. And if you see a happy and cheerful old man, know that either he was wise enough to accept this way of life or he was strong enough to be the change he wanted to see.
We remember this throughout our lives. Our elders also teach us the same thing- be wise. But what happens when we touch fifty years of life? Do we remain as wise as we were taught to be? Are old people really the wisest ones?
Well, the answer is neither 'yes' nor 'no'. In old people, the wisdom depends on the level of acceptance of changes around them. If the acceptance level is too low, they turn out to be stubborn old people. If the acceptance level is at an optimum to high level, they become young-at-heart old people. Is it complicated? Let me exemplify it.
One old woman I know keeps on cribbing about everything. Pessimism has now become a way of her life. Unable to accept the changes of growing competition and technology around, that woman became adamant.
On the other hand, I knew an old lady. She was 93 years old when she died. She was one wise old woman. She had lost her husband almost 10 years back. But she kept herself engaged in her children, daughters-in-law and grandchildren. She was an honest social animal, who never left a single chance of socializing with anybody. She wore traditional Indian sari all her life. She also had conventional long hair to go along with the sari. But she never forced us to grow hair like hers. Instead she used to encourage us to stay smart and go in for a trendy hair-cut. "We never had such hair-cuts so easily available in our time", she said. Whether it was working daughters-in law, growing competition, eating out or friends coming in- she accepted it all. And stood there strong and wise!
Thus, to be happy one has to lead a wise life throughout, not just in the youth. And wisdom always lies in accepting the change or being the change you want to be. Because change will always remain.So it is intelligent to go along with it.
So, next time you see a stubborn old man, know that somewhere he has not accepted the change in his life. And if you see a happy and cheerful old man, know that either he was wise enough to accept this way of life or he was strong enough to be the change he wanted to see.
one of your best post, loved it a lot.It is very true.Rigidity and pessimism is mainly because of the same.
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