Old and Helpless
Today I got a call from an old man, about 70-80 years old, trying use his old digital camera he once got as a gift when he was a professor in a college. He’s a painter and intellectual but today he’s frustrated and irritated. The reason he gave me is probably the same for other people of his age.
He had a family once and now’s helpless and alone in his house. His wife has passed away and his children have moved away. The feeling of being deserted at the weakest time in your life after raising a family is probably the worst feeling.
Is this what most of us will probably go through when we get older? After having a life full of friends, family and fun, why the end has to be sad and lonely? Maybe not so lonely if there’s a loving partner and not so sad if there are some 6 figures in your bank account, but most people are just depressed because they get older.
Old age should be perceived as a symbol for various accomplishments in life. Accomplishments don’t only mean career accomplishments but also the people you loved and helped, lives you changed, and the contributions you made to the society that somehow nudged the way of life for the younger generation in a better direction. It symbolizes love, experience, good judgments, and the services you provided to the nation and the people in your youth — when you could.
So, be proud, love, be loved and respected.
Few movie flash in my mind when I talk about this. These are among my favorites: About Schmidt [2002], The Bucket List [2007], and Big Fish [2003].
