On the knowledge of old people
Old people have seen a lot. They often have clear ideas about the right and wrong way to do things, based on hard-won experience.
They may not be right. After all, the world continues to change, and knowledge becomes outdated. Young people have new ideas and the energy to pursue them.
So perhaps we shouldn’t do just what the old people say, even if they are in charge.
But ignoring the knowledge they’ve accumulated is just stupid.
So . . .
If you’re an old person, like me, keep learning. If knowledge keeps changing, you can keep evolving. Why not?
If you’re a young person, consider asking an older person and listening to the answer. You may not think their idea is the best idea, but you can certainly learn from their experience.
It’s either that, or learn to hear “I told you so” an awful lot . . .
I have always been drawn to my elders. I used to “collect” WWII veterans, but they become rarer every day. Truly, the wisdom of their life experience enriches my life. A friend of mine, whose WWII-veteran father was the only other person in our tiny writing group, used to thank me for humoring her father by meeting with him and (perhaps) entertaining him. In response, I was adamant that I was doing no such thing as humoring him – he and I were working on our own novels and would spend an evening once a month swapping ideas, throwing them against to the wall, to see what would stick, and assessing each other’s work, all over cups of hot black tea. (He had no use whatsoever for green tea.) I cherish those times with him, for his insight and wisdom, humor and philosophy, after a lifetime of most unusual experiences and professions. It was a real honor that he called me “friend.”
Those who dismiss the elderly are missing out on the great value they contribute to us all. It’s their loss …