MIDDLE AND NOT CHILDHOOD IS THE BEST PART OF LIFE

MIDDLE AND NOT CHILDHOOD IS THE BEST PART OF LIFE

It may seem a loud thinking in saying so but there is no harm in exploring the why. It may be because nothing much of childhood inspires me anymore, nothing much of this aged life promises me for future but everything of the middle age draws me towards it.

Our life span is a spread of childhood up to 13, teens from 14 to 25, adulthood from 26 to 40, elderly from 41 to 60 and old 61 onwards.  Our writers, poets and thinkers have said in volumes about the childhood-its glory, its innocence, its carefree span and so on but frankly speaking, it does not seem to be true. At best it is just poetic and literary hyperbole.  Besides what is so big about depending on someone else for most of your needs? The early stage, as a toddler, is pathetic enough when one cannot even eat, walk and clean oneself. Rest of the span up to 21 is nothing but a parasitic life, again depending on others, called parents, for your pocket money and overall upkeep. Worst still is the constant threat from parents and teachers for one thing or the other. You cannot do this; you cannot do that and all such dictatorial commands. Just because they give you food, clothing and shelter, you have to obey them and do their bidding. May be their intentions are good and all they do is for your good only but the price extracted is too high. They never ask you what you want. They want you to become what they want. Their self interest and false sense of pride override the dreams of their own child.

Look at the poor kid of six, standing outside early in the morning, shivering with cold at 8 degree C, yawning widely, bored to the hilt, waiting for his school van, a heavy bag on his back, water bottle hanging on his neck in the front and the Mom, Dad or servant standing close by to make sure that he boards the van. All this is for his/her future that is not in their hands anyway.

Look at this teen of 14. Same situation except that the bag is heavier, mind tense as home work is incomplete and pocket money is all spent. It never was enough anyway. There is lot of things that money only can buy like greeting cards for friends, flowers for valentine and so on. The parents do not understand. Parents of friends are more understanding. This is going to be like that for years to come.  The teachers are more interested in better results in the exams so that they can pat their back rather than telling what is beyond books. There is so much beyond these books to be learnt.  All what they can give is tension of coming exams, board exams, CAT, JET, GMAT and all such crap. The parents collaborate with them. They will never understand that the future is not all about running a rat race that makes a rat for rest of your life chasing the cheese along with many other rats.

What is there in life past 60? If childhood is the beginning of growing old, old age is the reverse of that. The older the worse it becomes. I have seen them depending on someone else for food, clothing and cleaning just like a child. All what they have is experience that nobody bothers to share, not even their own children.

We are the left with the middle, from 26 to 60. Here you are the king of your destiny. You can do what you want. You can find a life partner, enjoy life and raise a family. You can even stay single and mingle with other singles with no strings attached. You may even stay a virgin if you like. You can take up a job of your liking and kick it if you have other idea. The scope is so big and varied that no imagination can encompass. You can live in big Metros or small towns, or village or even on the Himalayas. You may just pick a bag, fill it with some essentials and hop on the first bus, train or plane to no destination in mind. The best part is you are answerable to no one but yourself. You have all the freedom on earth.  You are not dependable on anybody for anything.

I think the point is proved. You are welcome to drill holes in it or mend them wherever needed.