New Month

This is the month of Fathers’ Day, Gay Pride, and my birthday. June is also the birthday month of several of my family members. Three reasons to celebrate for me, and for others.

As generations emerge, grow and ebb, we gain a larger view of life on this planet. What I think important at one stage of life is not so vital in the next or following stages. Perspective does that; it gives  breathing room to think and weigh values.

When I was young – teenager into early 20’s – I felt the reality of expanding life and the sensing of it all. Discovery and fulfillment were just around the corner. Each day offered a new glimpse of possibility. Those days were exciting and breathtaking.

Sobering reality dawned with choosing among optional life pathways. What would happen if I chose this path and not one of the others? Was there more money with one, more prestige with another, or something else with yet another?

Not easy choices. Early in life we do not have the toys and glitter that money can bring. Do we miss that then and yearn for the means to gather those goodies? Or do we value something else entirely? What brings the largest reward? What is that reward? A sense of fulfillment? A sense of worth having nothing to do with money? Can we even know the relativity of such things?

Yes, financial rewards are needed to buy a better home – more convenient, better location, more pleasing architecture, and a touch of luxury perhaps. More financial rewards ensure ability to pay for educating the kids to whatever degree they are interested and able. Funding a secure retirement is yet another motivator. Even things may motivate but not always a lasting allure.

Luxury clothes, jewelry, travel, and cars are baubles that please but for a slice of time. perhaps a memory but little more. And then the reality that all good things come to an end, and the baubles and big ticket toys vanish. No longer useful. No longer practical. Even housing comes with downsizing because it must. I can no longer care for larger spaces, avoid the complexities of managing such responsibilities, and work toward inevitable simplicity. Even travel is more trouble than it is worth. Old memories will have to do. The body deals with what it can, and must.

What entices the mind now are ideas. They are the new experience and accumulating memory that matter now. It is not what have I accomplished so much as what is yet to be done that I may help do? Yes. That is of interest. Who needs help? If I help them, will they be empowered to accomplish more for their families and society? Will they innovate the solutions we need and ache for as a society? Or will my efforts create more wealth that skews our cultural values? Which is important? Which not?

Passage of time is aging. Aging gains perspective. Perspective builds understanding. Understanding provides articulation for others to now see what the elder has come to know. Is the knowing of value? Is it truly worth knowing? If so, labor on and help younger generations thrive.

For their sake. And that of mankind.

And I'll get a kick out of it, too!

June 1, 2021