Growing old and growing up

One morning I saw a news headline: “US Social Security’s full retirement age moves to 67.” Though I enjoy my senior citizen card, I still keep myself productive, working out and doing work. The words of Zig Ziglar have inspired me, “I’m not retired. I’m re-fired. I won’t ease up, let up, put up, or shut up until I’m taken up. In fact, I’m just getting warmed up.” As I reflected on this, I realized that life is not just about growing old, but it requires a lot of growing up and developing maturity as this is good not only for me but for the people around me.

I have kept this material over the years. When I was younger, I would read and laugh, but now I read it and laugh harder as I know I am in it. Here is the material. According to Jeff Foxworthy, you’re not a kid anymore WHEN:

• You quit trying to hold in your stomach, no matter who walks into the room.

• You enjoy watching the news.

• The phone rings, and you hope it’s NOT for you.

• People ask what color your hair USED to be.

• Your best friend is dating someone half their age AND isn’t breaking any laws.

• You start singing along with the elevator music.

• You do want a new washing machine for your birthday.

• You answer a question with “Because I said so!” Today when young kids ask difficult questions, many of my friends would say – “Just ask Siri or Alexa.”

• You don’t like to drive after dark.

• You say the words, “Turn that music down!”

• You point out what buildings used to be where.

• You know all the warning signs of a heart attack.

• You’ve owned clothes so long that they’ve come back into style TWICE. I know because I came from the garment industry. And all these jeans the kids wear today were what I introduced into the market many years ago.

And here are the advantages of growing up and growing old.

1. People call at 9:00 pm and ask, “Did I wake you?”

2. You can eat dinner at 4:30 p.m.

3. You have a party, and the neighbors don’t even realize it.

4. Your joints are more accurate than the National Weather Service. This way, you will never forget to bring an umbrella.

5. Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can’t remember them either.

Aging is a part of life. Growing old is not an option, but growing up is. Consider the fact that the millennials are getting old. Every time I said this, my audience would laugh. “The oldest millennial today would be 42 years old. They belong to the generation of “YOLO” (You Only Live Once) and the “FOMO” (Fear of Missing Out.) This generation extolled the virtue of IG (Instagram) photos and “selfies.” Self-promotions were their KRA (Key Results Area) through social media platforms.”

But many of them have matured as their seasons in life have changed. They have grown old, and they have grown up. They have families to provide for, and the pandemic has taught them the lesson of saving for the future. Millennials are now in strategic leadership positions, and I am currently training more of them than Generation X in the company’s leadership programs. They have matured and they are talented and would soon be occupying senior leadership positions, many of whom are there already.

Sadly, few have not matured, especially those who keep posting stuff on social media promoting themselves and sharing strange and crazy ideas. Many self-proclaimed millennial “gurus” and “experts” today post stuff on when, how, and why one should quit their job if they are unhappy. They constantly blamed “toxic” bosses, companies, and culture, leading the readers and viewers to think that they are unfortunate victims of circumstances. The focus is still on “what I can get” and not what and how I can serve. And then, they contradict themselves by teaching and training on “resilience and grit.” They can’t seem to make up their minds. Rarely do you find them posting and teaching stuff extolling the virtues of contribution, selflessness, and striving for excellence. Perhaps these “gurus” have grown old but have not grown up. Perhaps, I am not just old but old-fashioned, and I would still espouse, teach and train on traditional values of honesty, hard work, selflessness, and the constant striving for excellence. I wish these personalities would grow up and mature, and share posts and thoughts that would help and not harm their younger audiences.

According to rabbi and author Joshua Loth Liebman, “Maturity is achieved when a person postpones immediate pleasures for long-term values.” And playwright Tom Stoppard says: “Maturity is a high price to pay for growing up.” So now you know. Growing old is not the same as growing up.