Let’s give back to those who gave their youth to us

Elders are experienced guides to life.

Though at times we come into different arguments and put the blame on the generation gap, don’t forget they are always ahead, experience wise. Times then and now will have some changes but they have already trod this journey in life. Their stories and history may guide us and trust me, their experiences will beat our book knowledge any day. Just because you are educationally qualified than your elders including parents, does not mean you are wiser than them. After all, they are indeed ‘knowledge banks’.

They love you.

Our elders love us with a doubt. They want what is best for us and they have thrived to give us the best everyday. They have their best interest in our well being. They are the role models who taught us what love is. The least we can do is respect them.

They deserve your respect.

Like a high-five after a splendid race , the player deserves it . It does not mean they will stop running or never run again, the high-five justifies the achievement and is a mark of respect. The tipping of hat in the presence of a successful man is not to pacify the man but to show our respect. Our elders have run a nice long race, they have won and as form of kinship we respect them. Life would be tasteless without appreciation and respect is the best form of appreciation. We should not respect them just because we should , we should respect them because we want to. A new member of a team follows a legacy and later becomes the flag bearer . This cycle works only if it is based on respect.

Life is long and short at the same time. Long enough that we can enjoy the walk and short enough that running is the only option. We need to mix it up and the proportions are the crux of it. The experienced chef is better than an amateur, even if they just hold their hand while they learn. Respect is how we establish this balance and success comes from balance and stability. If you want to improve your chances of success start respecting those who deserve it .

Strong moral values.

In this world , the elder teach the younger. Whatever we learn is from them and them alone. If you have a sound value system and morals and if you can instinctively tell what is wrong and what is right , thank your elders for teaching you the distinction . The society is made from us , if the base is shaky the buildings won’t survive. Whenever you see a strong building , thank those who strengthened the foundation . A man is judged by his character and this is gifted by the elders . So respect is an obvious to follow.

Humanity.

Humanity is why we respect our elders. We all share a bond as human beings. When we were little children, we were helped at every stage by people we know and don’t know , because we needed it. This is an instinct imbibed in all to protect our kids and its also the same way with elders who face their own health problems or vision problems, the more able bodied generation should take that responsibility to their shoulders as it is nothing less than their duty to respect their elder generation . Its a pay back for safe childhood and hope for more assisted old age.

They are our family.

After all we belong to the same family tree and family take care of each other. The blood of our grandparents run through the veins of our parents and the same run in ours. We are them and they are us. We are them but much younger while they are us, a little older with strands of gray hair maybe. Remember, family does not abandon family and do I even need to mention why?

We get what we give.

Last but not least, keep in mind that what goes around comes around. The way we treat our elders will be the example for our kids to learn how to treat us when we go into that elderly phase in life. The famous saying “As you sow, so shall you reap” came to my mind now. Just think for a moment.

Will you like to trade places with your neighboring grandmother when you see her being disrespected day in and day out? Or would you like to be that elderly man or woman in the local transport where you have to stand all the way for hours at end? Is this the future you will want to live in? So for a practical more head and less heart generation, here is my question. Is this how you want your life to be? If not then lets sow our seeds right and right now so that our plant grows tall and stand straight. The idea of being humiliated by younger generation is gut-wrenching, so let’s not do it to them because we don’t want that to be done to us. Respect begets respect, so invest respect now to ensure respect later in life.

So this is what you can do;

■ Re-connect with your grand parents. Make some room for them in your day.

■ Talk to your uncles and aunts. See how they are doing.

■ If you have elders at home, listen to them. Talk to them and spend some quality time with them. That would make them more than happy.

■ Help elderly people on streets. Greet them with a simple hi or a good morning. Smile at them with respect and try to brighten up their day.

■ Go volunteer at an old-age home.

■ Lastly, do not forget your parents as they grow old.