Age is a funny thing.

[A Karenina]

I'm PUSHING 40 (in 4 more months...that makes me 39 and 3/4) and I thought this was hilarious. Thanks!

[Peg]

Originally Posted by KlatunIckto

Amazing I never thought that people gained a better or more positive outlook on life in their senior years,in factit has been my experience in doing volunteer work with seniors that they are most pissed at the world.

Very true. They also act like the world owes them something. I know I'll be old someday, but I hope I don't act like some of the senior citizens I've had to deal with.

[Suresh Gupta]

Originally Posted by KlatunIckto

Amazing I never thought that people gained a better or more positive outlook on life in their senior years,in fact it has been my experience in doing volunteer work with seniors that they are most pissed at the world.

There are all sorts of people in the world.

[Tombstone]

I don't know the author, but it is something I think about daily and make a concerted effort to practice.

Stop and Smell the Roses

Mountains should be climbed with as little effort as possible and without desire.

The reality of your own nature should determine the speed. If you become restless, speed up. If you become winded, slow down. You climb the mountain in an equilibrium between restlessness and exhaustion.

Then, when you're no longer thinking ahead, each footstep isn't just a means to an end but a unique event in itself. _This_ leaf has jagged edges. _This_ rock looks loose. From _this_ place the snow is less visible, even though closer.

These are the things you should notice anyway. To live only for some future goal is shallow. It's the sides of the mountain which sustain life, not the top. Here's where things grow.

[Suresh Gupta]

Originally Posted by Peg

....... I hope I don't act like some of the senior citizens I've had to deal with.

Yes, that should be the attitude.

[Suresh Gupta]

Originally Posted by Tombstone

........... To live only for some future goal is shallow. It's the sides of the mountain which sustain life, not the top. Here's where things grow.

It is a nice thought. To worry only for future is not the fulfillment of life. One should also enjoy the present. Did I read you correctly?

[koan]

The journey is more important than the destination. In fact, why have a destination at all?

My grandmother had a stint in the hospital at 82 and there was an elderly woman next to her that was the most miserable cuss I've ever heard. With a rasping voice and harsh words...our eyes bulged after 10 minutes of listening to her. My grandmother who had to lie there all day said, quite admirably, "She's 103. She's earned the right to bitch!"

[Suresh Gupta]

Originally Posted by koan

[color=Indigo]The journey is more important than the destination. In fact, why have a destination at all?.........

One can't think of journey without first thinking of destination. No doubt, proper planning of journey is very important to reach the destination.

[koan]

Originally Posted by Suresh Gupta

One can't think of journey without first thinking of destination. No doubt, proper planning of journey is very important to reach the destination.

But some can journey without a destination. It is just a different temperment or personality trait. If you've ever done personality testing, or even aura testing, it is quite amazing to see the difference between people's approach to life.

Some people take the exact same route to work every day and are very upset if road work causes a detour. Some people, who personally drive me crazy, refuse to take the same route twice or ever look at a road map. Let's just find the place by driving around for five hours! But, to their credit, they see a lot of interesting things that me, with my road map, would never have seen. Even though they may never arrive at the destination, they just might learn more than I did in their travels.

I think youth wants to make their own map.

Middle age is thinking maybe their is some value to the road map after all.

Elderly figure they know all the short cuts and don't need the map anymore.

For some more generalizations anyway.

[Suresh Gupta]

Originally Posted by koan

But some can journey without a destination. It is just a different temperment or personality trait. If you've ever done personality testing, or even aura testing, it is quite amazing to see the difference between people's approach to life.

You mean reaching somewhere through default and then term it destination. It happens. Some people shoot first and then go and put a circle around the point they had hit. Then there are people who will put a circle first and then plan to hit at its center. They may, they may not. But they have made efforts. And this is life.

Some people take the exact same route to work every day and are very upset if road work causes a detour. Some people, who personally drive me crazy, refuse to take the same route twice or ever look at a road map. Let's just find the place by driving around for five hours! But, to their credit, they see a lot of interesting things that me, with my road map, would never have seen. Even though they may never arrive at the destination, they just might learn more than I did in their travels.

No two people have similar approach to life. There is always some difference. People, whether they arrive at the destination or not, learn from the experience. But what they do with that learning is important. In management terms it is called planning, monitoring, review and action. You can call it 'journey spiral'.

I think youth wants to make their own map.
Middle age is thinking maybe their is some value to the road map after all.
Elderly figure they know all the short cuts and don't need the map anymore.
For some more generalizations anyway.

Everybody is free to have a roadmap or not have a roadmap. But I still maintain that without first thinking about destination one can't think of journey. One should not lead life by default.

An interesting analysis though. Congrats.