We Should Respect Our Elders
One of the basic lessons of our childhood days is ‘respect your elders’ . Why we ask? Most of the time this question received vague answers like its good manners, I am elder so you should listen to me and the best and most confusing one is because they are elders ! Does being born before someone entitles you the respect of younger generation ? As kids we were taught things that conflicted like respect everyone but don’t answer back , be humble and always stand tall , stand your ground but don’t fight . There is a delicate balance where we have to act in way that accomplishes both the above targets with one arrow. This article is for those in their late teens and above . Now that we ourselves are in this age , as young adults , that respecting elders is as complex and just as simple . Lets see some of the reasons why we should do respect elders.
10. As you sow, so shall you reap.
When practicality has more ears than emotions , lets be brutally practical and selfish for couple of minutes . Will you like to trade places with your neighboring grandmother when you see her being disrespected day in day out ? will you trade places with anyone in the park today the way you see the people treat them ? In the local transport when you sit through the journey and elders stand all the way for hours at end ? Is this the future you will want to live ? So for a practical more head – less heart generation , here is my question , is this how you want your life to be ? If not then lets sow our seeds right and right now so that our plant grows tall and stand straight . The idea of being humiliated by younger generation is gut-wrenching so lets not do it to them that which we don’t want to be done to us . Respect begets respect so invest respect now to insure respect later in life.
9. Humanity
Pushing an elder to get a better seat or the last piece of cake is never worth it for it never feels right . we gladly help a child when he is about to fall , why ? Because he cant care for himself and we know it . Same thing applies to the seniors .Humanity, this is another reason to respect elders . we all share a bond as human beings . As a child we are helped at every stage by people we know and don’t know , because we need it and cant survive without it. This is instinct imbibed in all to protect our kids . Same way when elders who face their own health problem , vision problem the more able bodied generation should shoulder the responsibility as it is nothing less than their duty to respect their elder generation . Its a pay back for safe childhood and hope for more assisted old age.
8. Knowledge Bank
Wisdom is in the eyes and eyes give away the age . This adage is true and this is again a reason to respect your elders for they have seen it all . The phase of our life is already experienced by them , they know what we are going through and can guide us through the unknown . Mountaineer have the most experienced player ahead so that the amateurs step correctly and not hurt themselves or kill themselves. The idea is that as an expert is expert , the young-lings should learn from them and respect their knowledge . The life is bit short if we use the try and learn method , playing smart in every field is important , and not using the living breathing knowledge bank is plain stupid . We have amazing asset so lets respect it.
7. They love you
Our elders love us , they want the best for us . We have to remember the generation gap and meet them half way to really understand their motive. We should respect people who love us and have their best interest in our well being . We are the children whom the elders have seen grow up , they have a say in our life for they care , we have the responsibility to appreciate them . The least we can do is respect them.
6. Heritage
The Indian weddings , right from the start is laced with rituals which include is rarely understood by the younger generation. This rituals have deeper meaning and without elders we would be lost to say the least ! The reading of the scripts, the ‘tithe’ and ‘kundli’, the drawing of auspicious dates and answers to the right handed cooking questions are all known to elders. The tricks to the trade and the traditions are best understood and implemented by the more experienced section of society. Every family has that special recipe which other just cant get right, its handed down in family and elders. The heritage of our family is made by elders, the elders are the gatekeepers to endless family treasure and it makes sense to always respect the gatekeeper.
5. Family tree
We all have a beautifully laced family history which is no less that a classic movie. We have heard tales of our elders picturing them in slightly faded picturesque background, running around trees. Who doesn’t like to hear stories about their fathers as burly teenage boy and mothers as shy teenage girl, their grandfather as proud freedom fighter and grandmother as coy housewife. This family tree is where we come from, who we are and how we became what we are. This gives us roots in this world and back story to depend upon. We should respect our history and those who create it.
4. Strong morals
In this world, the elder teach the younger. Whatever we learn is from them and them alone. If you have a sound value system and morals, If you can instinctively tell what is wrong and what is right, thank your elders for teaching you the distinction. The society is made from us, if the base is shaky the buildings wont survive, Whenever you see a strong building, thank those who strengthened the foundation. A man is judged by his character and this is gifted by the elders. So respect is an obvious to follow.
3. Love
We know that they love us, but don’t we? One of the simplest reason to respect the elders is that we love them. They care for us when we are sick, cook for us, care for us, talk to us teach us and love us more than life itself. We love them, we follow them and their words .They show us their love by the acts of kindness and care, we show it by respect . The touching of feet in morning or daily evening walks are not just a rule, they are what shows our love. Respect is part of love, love doesn’t exist without respect and respect is one of many signs of love. To let the elders know you care just respect their words and actions. This will cement your relation and trust will multiply in no time. Life becomes easier for us when we have our elders on our side during our struggles.
2. Experienced guide to life
The confusion of teen and tension of early twenties and frustration of late twenties, what if we have en experienced person to guide us through it all ? Someone who knows what it feels like to be in love ? to be indecisive about life ? to not know what to do ? to deal with peer pressure ? to deal with family pressure ? Well, wake up people ! we all have these friend/philosopher/guide. Look around and take your pick. Life hands you trouble and solves it for you as well. we have the puzzles and a key that solves all puzzle. Respect the help for it is what makes life livable.
1. They deserve it!
Like a high-five after a splendid race, the player deserve it. It doesn’t mean they ll stop running or never run again, the high-five justifies the achievement and is a mark of respect. The tipping of hat in presence of successful man is not to pacify the man but to show our respect. Our elders have run a nice long race, they have won and as form of kinship we respect them. Life would be tasteless without appreciation and respect the up-est form of appreciation. We shouldn’t respect them just because we should, we should respect them because we want to. A new member of team follows a legacy and later becomes the flag bearer. This cycle works only if its based on respect.
Life is long and short at the same time, long enough that we enjoy the walk and short enough that running is the only option. We need to mix it up and the proportions are the crux of it. The experienced chef is better than amateur, even if they just hold their hand while they learn. Respect is how we establish this balance and success comes from balance and stability. If you want to improve your chances of success start respecting those who deserve it.