The Young and The Old--Part One

I was talking to my girl, Erin, in Sweden, about some people that we both know who have kind of flip-flopped emotionally and done some pretty silly things over the past year.

She said, with the slightest sensation of awe. "But you've always stayed consistent."

I laughed. "I know who the #^** I am. I don't have to trip."

Guess that's what happens when you get old.

Allow me to illustrate some of the differences between the old and the young that aren't talked about too often.

ARGUING

See, young folks like to argue--oh, I'm sorry. Did I say argue? I meant debate.... yeah, well, whatever ...

I don't argue. Not about anything important, anyways. Why should I waste your time and mine trying to convince you of what I already believe in?

CHANGING THE WORLD

Young folks think that the world is full of injustice and that those of a higher consciousness and with the energy and conviction to do what's right can actually change things.

I'm not trying to change shit. I can't even stop myself from cleaning out a bag of cheese popcorn in less than fifteen minutes tops, no matter how many times I say, "Now, Girl, there's at least three servings in this here bag."

I mean, really, who am I? At this point, I'm just trying to keep things simple and be happy.

Do I mourn the loss of my previous aspirations to change the world? Not really. And how can I explain to my younger sister, who sadly announced (after I had refused to get angry over some 'intolerable' situation) that I had "settled" ,"become complacent" and was "disillusioned".

I shrugged. Perhaps so. But it's hard to tell that to a younger person who is still bent on declaring the world a horrible place that needs to be revamped immediately that the real struggle, the true struggle is inside (yourself--the soul--if you will) ?

You can't.

I applaud the naive arrogance of the young who put so much stock in their existence that they honestly believe that the fate of the universe hinges on their shoulders. I think anyone who considers themselves intelligent fancies that they are a lot more important to the scheme of things than they actually are.

I think it is after after you go around the block a few ( and after Life puts you on your ass a few times ) that you realize that the universe consists of a lot more than your ideas of what should and should not be.

The world will keep turning, the sun will rise and set, children will grow up and civilizations will ascend and decline--despite or in spite of you. The ultimate plan is so much bigger than we could even pretend to imagine.

And let's face it. In the scheme of things, we, as individuals, are just not really that important.

Does it mean that I don't think we should strive to make things better? Certainly, we should!

But let's just say my focus is a lot more tuned to my er, abilities.

I can't change the world. But maybe I can put a smile on somebody's face or make them feel like they are less alone on this day, sponsor a kid in Africa, vote for Obama, recycle. (I recycle, dammit!)

And then after that, when my day of altering the fate of the universe is done, I can focus on my more immediate mission:

To perfect that chai recipe. A glass would be just perfect with this cheese popcorn.