Friday... full of good cheer
Getting old
The one thing that is absolutely guaranteed in life is that we are all going to get old. Sorry to bring you all down so early in the year, but it's been on my mind recently.
- G*Nice
- Published: 23:51 January 15, 2009
The one thing that is absolutely guaranteed in life is that we are all going to get old. Sorry to bring you all down so early in the year, but it's been on my mind recently. But like all of my thoughts, there has not been a logical linear flow of thinking that got me to that destination.
Let me explain.
I was talking to some of my mates at work who have "habits" and questioning them as to why they do it. Very few seem to be able to admit that they are "addicted" and often trot out anecdotes about how they have easily given up for months on end in the past and are always waiting for a mythical landmark date in the future to quit again … this time for good.
Now don't for one minute think that I am being judgmental of them, I believe that as long as something that any of us choose to do doesn't harm anybody else then knock yourself out … Live your life. What seems to be the hardest thing for people with "habits" to admit, to themselves and to others, is that they might actually like it, and for me that's the reason to carry on doing it.
The flipside being that as soon as you don't want to do whatever it is, then stop doing it. How this ties in to the "getting old" thought is that I don't necessary support the line of rationale that follows that stopping our vices in the present may shave years off our lives when we are older.
I am not condoning any bad behaviour that any of us have and any young readers should listen to their peers that surround them and respect the experience of those with a few more years of living under their belts. I am just giving you my humble opinion on how I see it. I personally don't want to have loads of years at the end of my innings when my universe would naturally have contracted because of age. Regardless of the framework of this discussion, I prefer to live for the moment with whatever that brings with it.
I fully admit that this frame of mind probably comes from my upbringing.
I saw my parents working so hard when I grew up, money didn't come easy for them,
and they worked and saved for the future of the family. As soon as I was able to fully understand it, it left me realising that they are the real heroes to be looked up to and respected for the sacrifices they made in the short term for the benefit and stability of all of us.
I also realised though that they didn't really get the benefit of all their hard work when they were still young enough to actually enjoy it. This is the reason why I have kind of been the direct opposite as soon as
I started earning.
In direct contrast to my folks I am quite blessed that money seems to come relatively easily for me .. and I know that I don't really value it as much as they did. If I can share my good fortune to make myself or others that surround me a bit happier, even momentarily, then I do it. This may not be the best way to approach things and I hope that I am not coming across as arrogant or selfish, but it just seems the right way for me.
***
Back to the old thing, I often wonder if all the rap tunes and stuff that I love now will be the same records that I play when I am an old player rocking in my rocking chair. I grew up listening to my dad's Nat King Cole albums, so is my equivalent going to be rapping along to Biggie Smalls and tapping my toes in my slippers?
Am I going to be defending
Dr Dre in front of the youngsters preaching about how in my day we used to have "real music"? It's such a crazy thought but maybe that's what the future brings.
In the words of the master: "You don't know and now you know."
Forever old school-ingly yours
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