Becoming Irrelevant in the Society
A few days ago, I was in my car driving along a busy street in Atlanta, GA. Suddenly, I saw an elderly lady walking on the side of the street. It seems she was on her way to running an errand. I looked at her briefly and quickly turned my attention towards a younger, much more attractive figure. She in turn appears to be in her late 20's and very well clad. She was attempting to get into a luxury automobile.
Now, don't get me wrong; I am in the look but don't touch - I mean, look but can't touch category. You see, I’m a married man and happily so. Nonetheless, my eyes appreciate fine, beautiful and sophisticated ladies. So, I couldn’t stop to think about life after my encounter with both women. So, I set out to post this article.
Now, I am aware of the flack that I may catch as a result of this article from some who would rather not deal with the facts of life as it exists. The fact remains that we were created to get old. That’s a fact! No one can change that. It is the process that’s fascinating to watch.
As I was thinking about this lady, I thought about even my own mother. At her 20’s, she was on top of the world. Her nickname was” the one who wakes up and does clean” Pretty as she wants to be. Some of the stories she told me about how men would come begging, pleading and chasing her all over the place. She could literarily get whatever she wanted by the mere asking.
She received items like fine cars, her own place and fine jewelry’s among others from men who would just like to be seen with her because of her beauty. Even an Uncle who was a police commissioner invited my mother at the bequest of his coworkers whenever they’ll see her picture at his office for social events. Today, my mother is in her late 70’s and barely gets around. Well, this is not about my mother. I am sure you too could muster up something fantastic about yours.
Here is the point I am trying to make. Everything does get old. The problem for us as human beings is that we are stubborn and will fight to our last breath to prevent old from being called old. It is what it is. When you get old, like that brand new car few years early, each one of us would have lost some luster. Hard to start in the morning, difficult to get into reverse, start and stop, and sometimes –just refused to start at all. And if you have failed to maintain an excellent maintenance record, it may just die while you drive to work.
These days, the airwaves is bombarded with advertisers selling all kinds of items to help you get it up, stay up and don't forget about the warnings of all the side-effects. I despise those ads, particularly; while I am in the car with a young child enjoying a family conversation and suddenly we are rudely interrupted with such ads. I wouldn't even mention the name in my article.
Getting back to the main character of this article, the lady was walking down on the side street in a flowery gown, her hair was a little out of place and does not appear to have a good make-up on, though it seems she had something. I thought about this lady 30, 40 perhaps 50 years ago in the office, star of the main attraction, perhaps mean to other people, perhaps cause some to lose their job, perhaps dated the boss and had some control. May be possibly someone who was class oriented. Well, look at her now.
As I looked and moved on, I am sure hundreds of others did the same think. Then I saw a much younger, well dressed, sophisticated young woman, I looked and attempted as long as I could to look again. Even though, she means nothing to me. I feed my eyes and there was something about that which was satisfying to me.
In a nutshell, I started thinking about the pain of irrelevance most seniors feel as well as other seniors who would try by all means to stay young and maintain the magic of their youth by dressing so provocatively in odd places to simply get some attention. And my simple advice is this – it’s okay to get old. Seriously - It’s okay. Its part of the process we all bargained for. Like it or not, discuss it or not, it’s part of the entire package.
In summary, the lady on the side of the road could have been anyone’s mother – 40 years ago, she would not have walked down the road as she did and if she did walked down, someone would have offered a ride at least she would have gotten more looks than once or none at all. I know it is difficult, but at one point, the stage of irrelevance is not avoidable.
How have times changed and provided a glimpse into our future. To the other women in their late 60’s and early 70’s who are provocatively dressing to attract perhaps a younger crowd, please let it go and act your age. In this one instance, I am advocating that it’s okay for you to be conservative. Dress nice not tight. Don't bring unnecessary attention to your physicality. Be moderate. If you are not married, get a friend, a date a partner who would appreciate you and don't try so hard to appeal to total strangers. Yesterday is gone forever!
So enjoy yourself while you are still relevance. Threat other people right. Remember tomorrow is outside of your control. Not even today belongs to you. Do things. Chop life and give thanks.
5:34 AM 4/16/2009
Now, don't get me wrong; I am in the look but don't touch - I mean, look but can't touch category. You see, I’m a married man and happily so. Nonetheless, my eyes appreciate fine, beautiful and sophisticated ladies. So, I couldn’t stop to think about life after my encounter with both women. So, I set out to post this article.
Now, I am aware of the flack that I may catch as a result of this article from some who would rather not deal with the facts of life as it exists. The fact remains that we were created to get old. That’s a fact! No one can change that. It is the process that’s fascinating to watch.
As I was thinking about this lady, I thought about even my own mother. At her 20’s, she was on top of the world. Her nickname was” the one who wakes up and does clean” Pretty as she wants to be. Some of the stories she told me about how men would come begging, pleading and chasing her all over the place. She could literarily get whatever she wanted by the mere asking.
She received items like fine cars, her own place and fine jewelry’s among others from men who would just like to be seen with her because of her beauty. Even an Uncle who was a police commissioner invited my mother at the bequest of his coworkers whenever they’ll see her picture at his office for social events. Today, my mother is in her late 70’s and barely gets around. Well, this is not about my mother. I am sure you too could muster up something fantastic about yours.
Here is the point I am trying to make. Everything does get old. The problem for us as human beings is that we are stubborn and will fight to our last breath to prevent old from being called old. It is what it is. When you get old, like that brand new car few years early, each one of us would have lost some luster. Hard to start in the morning, difficult to get into reverse, start and stop, and sometimes –just refused to start at all. And if you have failed to maintain an excellent maintenance record, it may just die while you drive to work.
These days, the airwaves is bombarded with advertisers selling all kinds of items to help you get it up, stay up and don't forget about the warnings of all the side-effects. I despise those ads, particularly; while I am in the car with a young child enjoying a family conversation and suddenly we are rudely interrupted with such ads. I wouldn't even mention the name in my article.
Getting back to the main character of this article, the lady was walking down on the side street in a flowery gown, her hair was a little out of place and does not appear to have a good make-up on, though it seems she had something. I thought about this lady 30, 40 perhaps 50 years ago in the office, star of the main attraction, perhaps mean to other people, perhaps cause some to lose their job, perhaps dated the boss and had some control. May be possibly someone who was class oriented. Well, look at her now.
As I looked and moved on, I am sure hundreds of others did the same think. Then I saw a much younger, well dressed, sophisticated young woman, I looked and attempted as long as I could to look again. Even though, she means nothing to me. I feed my eyes and there was something about that which was satisfying to me.
In a nutshell, I started thinking about the pain of irrelevance most seniors feel as well as other seniors who would try by all means to stay young and maintain the magic of their youth by dressing so provocatively in odd places to simply get some attention. And my simple advice is this – it’s okay to get old. Seriously - It’s okay. Its part of the process we all bargained for. Like it or not, discuss it or not, it’s part of the entire package.
In summary, the lady on the side of the road could have been anyone’s mother – 40 years ago, she would not have walked down the road as she did and if she did walked down, someone would have offered a ride at least she would have gotten more looks than once or none at all. I know it is difficult, but at one point, the stage of irrelevance is not avoidable.
How have times changed and provided a glimpse into our future. To the other women in their late 60’s and early 70’s who are provocatively dressing to attract perhaps a younger crowd, please let it go and act your age. In this one instance, I am advocating that it’s okay for you to be conservative. Dress nice not tight. Don't bring unnecessary attention to your physicality. Be moderate. If you are not married, get a friend, a date a partner who would appreciate you and don't try so hard to appeal to total strangers. Yesterday is gone forever!
So enjoy yourself while you are still relevance. Threat other people right. Remember tomorrow is outside of your control. Not even today belongs to you. Do things. Chop life and give thanks.
5:34 AM 4/16/2009
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