Aging, like, conjunctivitis, is contagious. But......

Aging, like conjunctivitis, is contagious, But ..

Now that 2018 is out and 2019 is in, we can safely assume that we have aged by one more year. We can either rejoice for happily living one more year or grumble for having lost one year of our life on this planet, choice is ours.

Try as we may, we are going to age. It is catching like conjunctivitis, because we are in contact with people who are aging from the day we are born.

Can segregation help? May be. But it has not been tried as yet and no research data is available to support this remedy. Prince Siddharth made an effort when he saw aged and sick people for the first time. From the day of his birth, he was not taken out of the palace and later not allowed to step out from his bed room, perhaps. . Probably the King wanted him to be safe and secure. But he forgot that those in charge of the care of the prince were old and aging, including the King and the Queen themselves. Siddharth left the palace and deserted his wife and son in search of a solution to this problem. He did find other things like how to prepare for the next life but could find no solution to the problem of aging itself. He also aged and died. Children who left their aging parents behind and went away in search of better life, never to return, also age. They found that the places they migrated to also have the same problem though not as acute because of better living conditions. It however hardly matters if one is called old at 58 or 68.

Can precaution help? Maybe. Again no such study exists. There have been suggestions - organic food, regular exercise, and regular medical check –ups and even Botox injections and plastic surgery ( Ask Nita Ambani or Shah Rukh Khan). This might have given some psychological feeling of wellness but each birthday reconfirmed the fact that aging is contagious.

So what is the solution? I have a suggestion. We should never grow. I mean we should never grow in our thinking. We should always stay with the child within. The aged are compared with children for a reason. Just observe a child keenly. He or she is fully contended- unmindful of what he is wearing, unmindful of how many times he has fallen while learning to walk. Give him a toy and he starts kissing and loving it or even dismantling it to find out what lies inside, always inquisitive. He learns and unlearns very fast. He is always assured of himself. The only time he cries is when he is hungry. He also cries when he is sleepy, not because he wants to sleep but because he does not want to. Above all there is so much to see and learn with open eyes. He is very selfish and manipulative also. He hesitates to be friendly with strangers but once in his lap and assured of the stranger’s intentions of love and caring, he will jump with joy the moment he sees him next time. He can manipulate his way as he wishes. He likes to play with other children. He does not remember his past. He will fight one moment and become friendly next moment. He does not know how to cheat, steal or speak a lie.

So, dear SILVERS! Stay child, stay blessed. Remain contended under all circumstances, do not grumble. The body will turn weak and this or that pain will hurt but get up and smile. For a change, take out the old photo albums and live life again. Listen to music which is as young as you are. Eat well and on time. Cry if feel so. Pamper yourself once in a while with food or drink of your choice. Eat what you like after 70, they say. Don’t count hours you slept, count hours you stayed awake. Don’t expect children to guess what you want or don’t want. Speak it out in a very diplomatic and tactful way. Use the childhood tricks of manipulations. As far as possible, avoid company of people older than you unless they are childish as you are. They are contagious. You will catch their symptoms-grumbling, complaining, glorifying olden days, carrying old baggage, finding faults with modern generation….endless. Stay with younger lot, preferably children. Do not carry any baggage of the past. Do not cheat, steal or speak a lie. Enough has already happened.

I can assure you, death will come but the reason will not be age.

Here is a cartoon from the treasure of Henry King (Hank) Ketchum to cheer you up.

  


Hari Lakhera

Sunday, 23 December 2018