Being old is becoming increasingly underrated. How young you are does not determine how experienced you are, as there could be an elderly person that has faced little to no hardship in their life while there is a child that has undergone wars and family problems. That doesn’t necessarily mean that they are wiser and more experienced, but they do know things that the elder doesn’t know. The elderly can sometimes be stubborn because of their seeming conception on life, but with the changing times, no knowledge is permanent. On the flip side, children are considered inexperienced and are not called upon for help, as their small body and little strength would not fare well in dangerous situations, but there are definitely time when a child can help. For example, an innocent problem that needs some silly resolutions would need the help of a child. Imagination and creativity blossom in the young years, but why is that considered silly? It’s not as if the most successful people think out of the box. Being old and being young are two opposites that both need some more respect.
Countless of people consider their most beautiful time during their early 20s, as their skin is much nicer than it will progressively get. Youth drools out of people around that age, but why is it valued? Why do we feel the need to look younger and vibrant? Why aren’t wrinkled considered beautiful? It is most likely because of the problems that are associated with age that make this so. Age means creaking bones and lack of energy, but a more active mind and more potential energy. Though retirees have the easy life, it is still riddled with problems like aching bones and demolishing health. Everyone has problems that deal with age, but the ones elders face seem much harder and are less favorable than having emotional issues or family problems.
Children strive to grow older and more mature faster because it seems like there is a lot of freedom that is associated with age, but in reality, responsibility arrives and freedom seems like nothing. When you are responsible, rather than an outside source telling you what to do, you have an inward desire to please, qualify, or even survive. You are free from restraints that tell you to do something at a certain time, but you are not free when you are required to do something by yourself. Looking forward to this time is something many children do, but it would be better if they just enjoyed their childhood rather than look to the future.
The teenage years are often described as “the best years of my life”. This is most likely because there are not that many things required out of you, besides school, and you can still get away with a lot of things. Parents can clean and finance for you, and you are able to live life as an adolescent with more freedom. With these great things, some downfalls must come. Teens are just transitioning to the adult life and are starting to bear the weight of being held accountable for their own actions. With their own set of thoughts, you can no longer be considered cute when a mistake is made. Being liberated also means that when some serious things have to be done, it is not always done. Also known as the rebellious stage, teenagers often confront their parents as restricting, which is not true. All parents wish for their children to be happy but stay within their limits, which means some rules for these years.
An adult is in the middle stage, no longer able to pass as a child or get senior discounts at museums. It is often the time of the most responsibility, with kids that need to be taken care of or parents that need to be pleased. Finances, social lives, and children worry these people the most, and they want to either be a child with no responsibilities or an elder with even less worries.
Each age has its turmoil, but really we should be grateful as each one passes us. The perks and downfalls of each age are not always apparent to us, but looking back, they are. Every year teaches us with new lessons, and every age provides new experiences, and regretting won’t help at all. Living for the future is much more pleasant than regretting the past. On that note, I remembered a little passage from who knows where, and it goes like this, “To have fun, you need three things. Energy, money, and time. When we are children, we have the energy and time, but we do not have the money. When we are adults, we have the money and the energy, but we do not have the time. When we are old, we have the money and the time, but we do not have the energy.”
Skies and Clouds 