There is little in life that the human psyche either welcomes with more gusto or dreads so profoundly as change, despite the undeniable certainty of it--change, that is. People past the age of thirty have long been accepted to be less adaptable, less open to changes great or small. That perception does not reflect the current generation, nor any generation since the 1900's; how do we go about updating the notion that older adults are stagnant and notoriously conservative?
"You must be the change you want to see in the world." -- Mohandas Gandhi
That's clear enough, isn't it? Gandhi said we have to walk the walk, not just talk the talk. For the most part, I believe that people in all age groups are open to reasonable change. I think the difference in the generations may be how each age group defines "reasonable."
What change are you seeking? Or, what change would you find acceptable? What are you willing to do, or not do, for the changes you seek? Have you ever said to yourself that you are too...old, tired, poor, insignificant, or disenfranchised to change or to affect a change? Would you accept any of those excuses from a friend, a mate, a government leader?
"Change is not merely necessary to life; it is life." -- Alvin Toffler
Changes don't have to be large scale to effect us; a simple thing such as a change to one's daily routine can put a person out of sorts--and perhaps more so than a change of global proportions. Again, though, it is a person's attitude about change itself that influences the reactions to changes in daily life. It isn't necessary to be wishy washy about everything in order to let changes roll blithely by, but it is necessary to understand that change does happen and will continue to do so--and thankfully for the human race.
"That's what learning is, after all; not whether we lose the game, but how we lose and how we've changed because of it and what we take away from it that we never had before, to apply to other games. Losing, in a curious way, is winning." -- Richard Bach, The Bridge Across Forever, 1984
The ability to change, to grow intellectually and spiritually and emotionally, keeps the human mind lubricated and malleable. Those who choose to close their minds to new ideas and new methods are putting up stone walls that will soon be impervious to change.
Go To Page: 1 2
| Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: | View all related messages |
For a complete listing of article comments, questions, and other discussions related to Deb Jones's Senior Lifestyle topic, please visit the Discussions page.