(Proposition)
[It requires no especial perceptivity, to conclude that a major, prevailing cause of human discontent is his lack of realistic perception of the ever-changing, physical phenomena in his natural evolving, life. Expectations concerning, personal strength, endurance and prowess about which so much esteem, apparently, is maintained, naturally, decline in older age. By contrast, the capacity for wise judgment, the latter, being honed on sufficient experience, is empirically, less reliable at childhood, than in maturity. These illustrations of temporal changes in capability, relative to the progress of maturity are generally, accepted, in principle, by all rational and pragmatic individuals. Nevertheless, such acceptance is often attenuated by phenomena such as immoderate ego, or fear of ongoing, personal decline and ultimate mortality. However, the astute consideration of genuine gratitude for the continuing franchise of life, itself, together with the empirical development of mature perception, makes the pragmatic, acceptance of maturation, with all its accommodations, good and bad, acceptable, and conceivably, joyful.]
(Discussion)
Considerations of age, and stage of maturity, as appears, are not notably, relevant in early childhood, with the possible exception, of the age’s premature, assertions of entitlement or capability. For such reason, we have chosen to consider human perception of, and reaction to, temporal, or developmental changes accompanying the natural process of aging, from early adult to old Age (over age 70). To our theme, it is one’s degree of rational acceptance of the relevant, temporal, tool bag of available, capabilities, which avoids personal frustration and dismay, and promotes the predictive, acceptance of life’s natural progress, and, effectively, leads to rational contentment.
Too many of our society, act as complicit sycophants of the profit-making, interest of the cosmetics, apparel and advertising industries. Such individuals have thoughtlessly, permitted themselves to be evangelized, in the worship and extolling of the fantasized appearance of the young, slim, glamorous, or handsome (avatar) model, tactically, presented by the media to the consuming public. The effective conspiracy between the negative elements of, personal insecurity, unrealistic criteria and misguided aspiration, are fertile soil for profitable, exploitive commerce. The foolish and insecure wish, for example, of an attractive, woman, 45 years of age, having given birth to three children and successfully, run a household, or yearly, performed the duties of employment, will ordinarily, not meet the surreal physical criteria of the publically, presented, media created, avatar of personal appearance; nor should it, appropriately, be within her rational and pragmatic expectations. Rather, she would do well to affirmatively, celebrate her continuing, franchise of life and the fortuitous, existence and good health of her family.
The maturing male adult would do well to consider the celebration of existence of his continuing life, and not, thoughtlessly, and painfully, perseverate on his (natural) progressive, loss of strength and physical stamina. He has, in contrast, empirically, developed skills and judgment, far more useful than previously existed, notwithstanding the natural decline in male prowess. Above all, he should, happily appreciate the continuing, natural, progress of his life, and, hopefully, his acceptable state of health. His developed skills and discernment are prized assets, significantly, offsetting, in both, consequence and essential value, his decline in physical stamina. Moreover, his developing maturity of perspective, and understanding predictably, will provide more essentially, valuable and useful, criteria, for his self-esteem and personal worth.
Having personally, arrived at the octogenarian stage, we have, indeed, found abundant happiness as a priceless accompaniment to the natural decline in physical capabilities, (even as accompanied, by a painful, arthritic payback for a long and active life) having nurtured, and benefited from the gradual and experiential, development of mature insight to an objective, and empirical, perception of our life, and of life in general. This aspirational achievement is the salient basis of our reiterated, dogmatic, statement, in relevant essays, “Old age is not a disease!”
It would seem, logically and empirically, appropriate, for Mankind, having been the singular, beneficiary of an advanced, brain, by the generous process of Natural Evolution, to pride itself on the developing area of wisdom, other than by criteria of strength of bicep, fleetness of foot or the smoothness of facial skin.
*[Much appreciation, to the classic, English Victorian author, Charles Dickens, for his kind, fraternal loan of the above title.]
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