Daily Archives: 10th June 2025

The Wisdom of Age

I have found that my attitudes to many things have changed over the years. This is perfectly normal and is indeed what one would expect, given that experience is, in and of itself, a learning process. You experience something, and your skills, attitudes and thinking change because of that experience – notwithstanding the header image![1] 😀

I saw an interesting article on the Internet the other day, which encapsulates this idea very well, and shares some of these attitudes. I thought that my readers may well be blessed by reading them, so I share them here for your edification.[2]


“I asked a friend who has crossed 70 & is heading towards 80 what sort of changes he is feeling in himself? He sent me the following:

  1. After loving my parents, my siblings, my spouse, my children and my friends, I have now started loving myself.
  2. I have realized that I am not “Atlas”. The world does not rest on my shoulders.
  3. I have stopped bargaining with vegetable & fruit vendors. A few pennies more is not going to break me, but it might help the poor fellow save for his daughter’s school fees.
  4. I leave my waitress a big tip. The extra money might bring a smile to her face. She is toiling much harder for a living than I am.
  5. I stopped telling the elderly that they’ve already narrated that story many times. The story makes them walk down memory lane & relive their past.
  6. I have learned not to correct people even when I know they are wrong. The onus of making everyone perfect is not on me. Peace is more precious than perfection.
  7. I give compliments freely & generously. Compliments are a mood enhancer not only for the recipient, but also for me. And a small tip for the recipient of a compliment, never, NEVER turn it down, just say “Thank You.”
  8. I have learned not to bother about a crease or a spot on my shirt. Personality speaks louder than appearances.
  9. I walk away from people who don’t value me. They might not know my worth, but I do.
  10. I remain cool when someone plays dirty to outrun me in the rat race. I am not a rat[3] & neither am I in any race.
  11. I am learning not to be embarrassed by my emotions. It’s my emotions that make me human.
  12. I have learned that it’s better to drop the ego than to break a relationship. My ego will keep me aloof, whereas with relationships, I will never be alone.
  13. I have learned to live each day as if it’s the last. After all, it might be the last.
  14. I am doing what makes me happy. I am responsible for my happiness, and I owe it to myself. Happiness is a choice. You can be happy at any time, just choose to be!


I decided to share this for all my friends. Why do we have to wait to be 60 or 70 or 80, why can’t we practice this at any stage and age?”


I think that’s pretty good 😀

Footnotes

Footnotes
1 Which, if you think about it, does not preclude my opening argument!
2 Unfortunately, the original author was not credited in the piece I read.
3 Actually, I do consider myself to be an honorary rat. My daughter keeps pet rats, and they have accepted me as being part of their ‘mischief’ (the collective name for a group of rats). Well, if it’s good enough for them, then it’s good enough for me, and so I am a rat, in their thinking at least. I consider this a great honour 😀