My father loved his quotes—he slung them like an army cook filling plates at chow time.
George Bernard Shaw’s quote that “Youth is wasted on the young” was one of his favorites.
While my eyes never got stuck in place from all the eye-rolling, his words still echo in my head. But in a different sense than perhaps he meant it.
While the years of youth are filled with hope, health, vigor and boundless energy, they are also severely lacking in patience, wisdom, perspective and compassion.
Maybe it’s fair to say that older age is wasted on the old in that the years—for too many—have created cynicism, lack of vitality and complacency.
My challenge is to acknowledge where I am in my life stage and recapture some of the positive attitudes of youth and help others by modeling more expansive thinking, more generosity of spirit and a more open-mindedness towards change.
Without those abilities, the wisdom, patience, perspective and compassion are truly wasted on the old.
How can we with our experience make a difference, to change the world for the better and live a more loving and caring life for ourselves and others.
Let me know your thoughts.
And no eye-rolling, please…
