Reflections on Aging, Health, and the Value of Relationships:
In his book "Shortcut for a Better Life", the writer Ziad Rayess mentions: The plane took off as I was watching an enjoyable clip about plant life. I don’t know why, but I felt that over the course of that three-hour trip, I lived for 30 years. My mind wandered over many topics, some of which I would like to share.
I wonder how many people (including myself), having gotten older, take a look at themselves and the way they behaved when they were young, strong, and powerful, when they had time and money. Their children were around, and the parents told them what to do and what not to do. They had authority, made decisions, and drove by themselves wherever they liked. In those days, they were in their best health. They didn’t have to take daily medications (blood pressure, diabetes, blood thinners, etc.) or go in for doctor’s appointments and tests day after day. They could eat what they wanted and didn’t need to avoid this or that dish, and they had no dental implants.
They thought that they had the right idea with most of what they did, and that others were wrong.
Of course, they were always looking for how to increase their income, get a better position, or gain more power. They didn’t appreciate the value of health, time, family, and friends enough.
I wonder, in all this time, did they think about how they would one day need someone to sit with them and listen to their stories, their words that mean nothing to other people? Did it cross their mind that they would need six to eight types of medication every day to fix their ailments? Or that they would eagerly look forward to five or ten minutes with their grandchildren when they put down the phone or iPad and listened to them? Did they think they would some day need a friend, someone who would listen to their stories without getting irritated or bored or agree to play backgammon or chess for a while, exchanging memories of the wonderful past?
I wonder if they told themselves, in those days, that one day they would be the one in need of others, not the other way around, for everything, big or small, and that they would reap what they sow.
I wonder if they realized that life is about fulfilling obligations and that God, the greatest judge of all, never dies and never forgets.
This need for others may come on gradually, with consecutive warning signs, but it may also come in quick, surprising blows.
We need a culture of bamboo planting. When you plant bamboo, you have to plant the seeds and assiduously care for the plant every day for many years. This whole time, it’s still underground, and you can’t see any results. Finally, the day comes when the plant suddenly sprouts, and within a few days or weeks, it’s many feet tall. That’s when we need all the basics of life as quickly as possible.
It’s also important for the new generation to learn from the past, planting their bamboo and patiently waiting to see it one day soon.
The plane landed. Stay safe.
Conclusion:
The author concludes by advocating for a culture of bamboo planting, where individuals plant the seeds and care for the plant every day for many years. This patience and dedication will lead to a fruitful future where one has the basics of life as quickly as possible. The author believes that it is important for the new generation to learn from the past and patiently plant their bamboo to enjoy a fulfilling life.
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