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Youth is a blunder, Manhood a struggle, Old Age regret.
By Melson Chun
Life is enlightening, though often painful passage of learning, discovering and enjoying. There are often many pitfalls that we have to climb out of, and obstacles that we have to triumph over in order to end up on the winning end. As such, I have little sympathy for the claim that “youth is a blunder, manhood a struggle, old age regret”, as it is overly pessimistic. Not only is it a very unrealistic comment, being too narrow in definition, it is also a very defeatist approach to life that, in the end, serves no purpose. Youth involves making blunders, but to label this whole self-discovering phase of life as a “blunder” is being overly cynical. Spanning the teenage years to the early twenties, it is in this stage of life that many of us ‘discover’ ourselves physically, emotionally, spiritually and intellectually. In this often awkward period between being a child and an adult, there are, no doubt, many mistakes we commit in order to rationalize our confused web of thoughts that are gradually reaching maturity. And in an often misguided attempt to assert the need for independence, a young person may fall into bad company, take up deplorable habits like smoking or even drugs. These are some of the many blunders that we commit as young people. However, we have to understand that it is through these mistakes that we learn. They can reform and turn out stronger and better people than before. With proper guidance from peers and elders, youth can and should be a wonderful experience of finally ‘growing up’. We discover relationships, explore our sexuality and spirituality and it is often in this period that we start pondering over life goals and aims. Though painful in many other ways like failed first relationships and the confusion of trying to break the fetters of parental control and yet knowing it can never be broken, youth is a wonderful experience in its initial baby steps towards adulthood. With adulthood comes numerous struggles. This period of adulthood often comes with added responsibilities like managing a family and excelling in one’s career. A very disillusioning experience for many people, adulthood often appears tedious and mundane, especially in comparison to earlier carefree years when one’s life was about indulging, reveling in and enjoying one’s youth. But if everyone adopts and lives by the motto “fortitude in adversity”, adulthood need not be only a struggle. Adversity is an inextricable part of every man’s life and fortitude compels us to face our problems. This not only strengthens us but also gives us a hint of Man’s capabilities. Very often, most of us are not aware of how much we can achieve and it is this adoption of an indomitable spirit of triumph against all odds that can make adulthood such a satisfying period of building self-worth. It is in the twilight years that Man sits back and ponders over and analyses the life choices he has made. Man, in his old age and with the benefit of hindsight, is capable of properly scrutinizing how he has lived his life and, often, regret sets in: regret over lost opportunities, failed ventures, and different roads that should have been taken. With the inexorable workings of old age on one’s body and mind, it is easy to succumb to pessimistic thoughts of regrets and doubt. Yet regret should only be a small part of old age. It helps to indulge in these moments of regret, of wishing things had been different; it is in Man’s nature to question and doubt, and to ignore it would just be plain denial. But one should not wallow constantly in it. Old Age should be about finally taking that big break from the hustle and bustle and enjoying serenity and tranquility before passing over into ‘the other world’. Old Age also allows time for one’s favourite pastimes that one did not have time for in the earlier years. Regret should be cast away in the abyss of one’s mind. This period of wisdom is not for self-pity. Life is too short to be spent in pessimism, but I am not saying euphemisms do any good either. Rather, one should be aware of all the blows life can deal and yet also always be subtly aware of the gifts and precious moments we are endowed with. Youth need not just be about blunder, manhood about struggle and old age about regret. Each phase is an experience of its own and should be savoured and relished, problems and all. Author is a person who have successfully combated acne. For more information, visit http://www.homeacneskincare.com on tips how you can banish acne forever too!
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Contributor's Note
Author is a person who have successfully combated acne. For more information, visit http://www.homeacneskincare.com on tips how you can banish acne forever too!
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