“The elders are the history and mirror of the living past. Study them to brighten your life and future.” These are the words of Ehsan Sehgal, an Urdu poet, writer and activist. Our elders are the fountain of wisdom given to us by the past. Since time immemorial the elders have been tasked with passing down their wisdom and experiences.
While a lot of their advice might seem irrelevant to us today, the truth that it is actually the reverse.
After experiencing their share of crisis and jubilations, they have golden nuggets of wisdom that could very well help us navigate the uncertain times we are living in. As Gen Zs and Millennials trying to navigate a world which is very different from the one we knew growing up, these timeless advice could just be the thing that makes our life more meaningful.
“The key to living a fulfilled life is to enjoy where you’re at now, no matter where that may be. In the blink of an eye, your kids will be grown up, out of your house and onto new things.
Spend as much time with them as possible, as well as your other loved ones. Visit your parents and extended family, and make them feel loved and appreciated while you are still able to. Life changes very quickly, and if you don’t embrace the little things, it might just pass you by.” -Anonymous
“If you’re positive you can get through it OK. When you think negatively, you’re putting poison on your body. Just smile. They say laughter is the best medicine there is.” -Anonymous
“You want so much for yourself, you have such expectations, you have so many wishes to succeed, and there’s a lot of anxiety that goes with how all that will take shape. I never want you to get carried away with how hard it seems. Growing up is a lot like the weather. Every time you hit the big storms that seem like they’re going to snow you under, it will change and get better —and the sun will come out.” – Agneta Vullett
“Don’t fall into the credit trap. Live within your means. I know two kinds of people; those who save for things that they want and then pay cash, and those who buy on credit and pay interest
on top of the purchase price.Once you start doing this it can quickly become impossible to change the pattern. All of your extra income goes to paying the credit cards/car payment/etc. and you can no longer put any money in savings. Then when you need (or want) to buy something, you have to do it with credit. Add a sudden large expense such as a medical bill, and you may never escape the pattern.” – demo7
“Travel while you’re young and able. Don’t worry about the money, just make it work. Experience is far more valuable than money will ever be.” – Brianna Wiest
These advices are timeless and very much relevant even today. Before immersing ourselves into the wide ocean of advice on the internet, let’s take a minute and look around us to see if we have elders within or outside our family to talk to and hear their stories. They can be fascinating and most likely have the message we have been looking for all around.
Sources:
https://www.inc.com/quora/3-life-lessons-from-a-93-year-old-that-will-help-you-at-any-age.html
https://jessiejwang.com/important-life-lessons/
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/why-should-we-listen-to-old-people_b_1207996
https://sixtyandme.com/choose-happiness-says-the-wisdom-of-our-elders/
https://www.greenrenaissance.co.za/
Blog Image Credit: Tristan Le by Pexels
Written By: Kritika Rao
