136th Edition
Don’t let the old man in
Don’t let the old man in is a saying many of my friends use to encourage each other to remain active and continue to be young at heart. It’s vitally important to quality of life as one ages. Moreover, there are multiple facets of this never-ending battle. First of all, it’s important to remain active both physically and mentally. What we don’t use atrophies over time. Physical activities, including resistance training and cardiovascular exercise, are extremely important to do regularly. It might help to set some goals, achieve them, and then set more goals. All it takes is self-discipline. If you’ve never done any of this before, just try your best. It gets easier over time, I promise.
Exercising our brain involves learning new things and spending some time each day in deep thought. Write and read as much as you can. Turn off the TV and keep it off. Even that gets easier over time.
Challenge yourself physically and mentally. Don’t coast or settle. Keep pushing. Do the best you can and be proud of your effort. Be thankful for each breath you take in God’s Kingdom. Make each day a masterpiece.
Stay young at heart. What does this really mean? In reality, wouldn’t it be nice to live like a young man, with the wisdom of an old man? (words immortalized by Bob Seger). Young at heart does not mean being impulsive or unwise, it means not being stubborn, cynical, or overly pessimistic. It means being open-minded and willing to try new things. Looking back, most people have experienced difficulties and disappointments. I know I sure have. But remaining young at heart also means never giving up hope that challenges can be overcome and that injustices can be corrected. Hope is the foundation post of being young at heart. Hope is an active word, and from hope grows duty, self-sacrifice, honor, and a relentless search for the truth.
The wisdom of an old man…. What happens to our wisdom? Does it fade away slowly as we age? How much of it is passed on to the next generation? I suspect that much of it fades away and that is unfortunate. The young have a lot they can learn from their elders. The reverse is true, too. I’m wondering if the young and old interact enough. The young could share new discoveries and innovations while the old describe meaningful experiences from the past and the timeless wisdom that resulted.
When I was young, I wanted to create my own destiny. I learned by doing and I made a lot of mistakes. I had little time to listen to the wisdom of the elders around me. I wish I could go back and listen intently to some of them. Especially my grandmother Hazel who taught me unconditional love and service before self. Also, my Uncle Frank who made every moment I spent with him feel special. Last, but not least, I miss my dear old friend Ted, who passed away recently. He inspired me with his unsurpassed work ethic, indefatigable optimism, and devotion to friends and family.
I wonder if our country is still young at heart…. In our relatively short history, we have accomplished so much. Sometimes I think Americans believe success, even greatness, is our destiny. Do we understand what caused the downfall of the great civilizations in history? Do we understand which are today’s serious issues to focus on and solve, and which are not? Can we still discern between truth and fabrication? Are our elders still young at heart? Are they hopeful? Do they exude a sense of duty, self-sacrifice, honor, and truth? I hope our country never lets the old man in.
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Michael Kayes
*These views are my personal opinions and are not the viewpoints of any company or organization.