Comparing the Young and the Old

We live longer and experience more in life we would become wise to the ways of the world. The funny thing is, this does not always happen. If you listen to the elderly many do become wise but many others seem to get stuck in their past, but yet they think they are wise. They can not seem to see the world changing around them. A firsthand example of this for me is my Grandparents. When we talk about money, specifically the cost of buying a new car they cannot fathom the cost of buying a new car.

I remind them of all the safety features that cars now have but they still resist he idea of replacing their 1985 Buick because of the cost associated with a newer and safer car. On the other hand young adults readily accept changes in their world. Now that we are living in the Information Age an enormous amount of information is readily available at our fingertips.

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Todays younger generation knows quite bit more than their grandparents knew at the same age because of this. The problem is that too many of us will allow ourselves to get stuck in our youth as well.

The extreme of a so-called typical young adult would be one who at 18 thinks they already know verything they need to in life. No one, especially an older person can tell them anything about life Another evident contrast between the elderly and the young is their outlook on life. Young adults are more optimistic about the future, whereas their counterparts are more pessimistic.

An example might be that you will hear from the majority of young adults, "l want to make a lot of money and retire early', but an older adult might say, "Money is not everything; as long as you stay healthy you will be happy. Another phrase that I hear quite a bit is to enjoy my youth and to see the world efore I get old. My Grandmother still tells me that to this day. Her belief is that once you reach a certain age when the aches and pains of aging begin you will lose your desire to be more active. Older people seem to get set in their ways and typically resist change. They get comfortable with a certain pattern in their lives and do not like this pattern disturbed. They have no tolerance for anything new. My Grandparents are a good example of how change is very difficult.

They have lived in their neighborhood for over forty years and it's is not safe any more. They refuse to even think about moving to a retirement community. When I ask either of my Grandparents why they won't move they blame each other for not wanting to move. Young adults on the other hand are much more adaptable to change. Most enjoy spontaneity and look forward to new experiences. What it all comes down to is time, experience and most of all the willingness of old and young alike to learn and share with each other. I know I can learn much from my elders, I hope they see that they can learn much from me.