Changes in Lattitude, Changes in Attitude

My thanks to Ronni over at “As Time goes buy” for this idea.

Maybe we all think about how we have changed as we age. Jung and others believe that we go through a process of renewal as we face ageing, and I agree with that idea.

As we age, our interests, beliefs and convictions change; for the better for many and for the worse for some. Some of us become more optimistic as we examine and test the beliefs we have acquired over our lifetime, and some of us become pessimistic.

For some the beliefs and convictions we held over our life are found to be tried and true and we stick with them, for some, the beliefs and convictions of a lifetime are found to be lacking. Lacking in compassion, humanity, empathy or common sense and we come to a crisis of self.

My friends and I have different views on religion, politics and life, but over the years we have learned to accommodate the others views and to learn about how their views shape their world. An example of how life views can change, I never was one to suffer fools gladly. When I was young I was not above putting down those who had differing views to mine. I did not listen to any ideas the person had if I believed them to be not philosophically or politically aligned with my thinking. 

As I grew older, but not wiser, I was fortunate to start working with a cancer survivor, who had a wonderful and different view of the world. Her attitude was infectious and I while working with her, I learned to accept all people even those who I found to be not in line with my thinking. I learned to listen to people and to see the best in them. At first, it was a hard to do, I had to adjust my thinking, my beliefs and my convictions and it took me a long time to change and it was not easy. Over an eight-year period, I grew and became a better person because of my interaction with her and my ability to learn and to accept that as I grew older I would have to renew myself.

Since I have retired, I have continued to see the best in people and as I have taken on the seven tasks of ageing, I feel positive and hopeful about the world. At this point in history, many believe we are in dark times yet we have seen darker times, (Two World Wars, the Plagues of Europe,  the Spanish Flu (avian flu) of 1918-1920, and the pan-epidemic of Aids) yet the world continues to become a better place for all of us.