Contrary to Ronni’s feelings that we choose to slow down as we get wiser and older, I find myself having developed a sense of urgency about a lot of things.
At the same time as I’ve mellowed about dust and grocery lines, I have become impatient for things that interest me to come about, seek quick learning and comprehension of new things I’ve discovered, and am generally less tolerant of the "I’m okay, you’re okay" lackadaisical attitude of the general mob around me.
I’m not sure if it’s because of getting older or because of the different way the older generations were raised, it just seems that I expect to do things on time and in the best possible manner, and fully accept guilt for not getting a job done. Once had an argument with someone who in fact was not much younger than myself about guilt. He felt that guilt was a bad thing and should have no place in our lives.
Huh?
Guilt is what motivates us to keep promises if the joy in the keeping isn’t there. Guilt is what makes us feel badly when we’ve wronged someone. To me, without understanding and being open to a sense of guilt, we have no consideration or values for others and their property. Witness the thieves and murderers, gangs that terrorize others simply because they don’t have a regard for anyone, not even themselves, and notice the astonishing rise in lack of remorse.
I would love to never feel guilty again. But to me, that also means that I would never wrong anyone again as well. Yes, this is the best way to eliminate guilt.
Going back to the sense of time, I just hope to accomplish what I’m meant to do, whatever else I can reach for and beyond, and be smart enough to recognize and assign priorities.
The Lost Children: A Charity Anthology
I’d just like to clear up a point that in no way did I indicate that anyone – or at least, not me – CHOOSES to slow down as they age. I was just speculating on a phenomenon that’s come to light for which I have no explanation.
Ronni,I think this one line from your post in particular impressed me, and it’s something I relate to: “So far, as I age, I can walk as fast as I always did, but I find I don’t always want to.”
I think that what I find happening is that while time seems to fly so quickly that it makes me desperate sometimes to do what I’d like to do, somehow we understand what deserves our attention and time–like handwashing those Meissen blue onion dishes.
Dang! I didn’t think anyone but me knew anything about those “Meissen blue onion dishes”{old-foggieME!}. “They” and other older things make me handle moments very carefully… and remember much. I understand and feel your place. I know you know….