So far I only read and heard about the ageing journey of
various people. But as the life had it in store for me I have now personally
seen a journey of once a Healthy, strong and Jovial person to weak and
completely bed ridden person.
I have also personally experienced the energy and enthusiasm
in my teenage years and finding it growing stronger upto the age of 30. During
these years your body responds to even very little care and gives good
output/energy for longer hours. In my mid thirties I have realized the two
things:-
a)
Mine body/energy is not the same as it was in twenties
b)
The elders around me are also losing strength
slowly.
Both
the realizations pointed to the same thing which we all tend to ignore i.e
Ageing. Although was all are aware of the term but we tend to downplay it for
as long as we can i.e until we have to face it or experience it personally.
Even after witnessing ageing, human mind tend to keep the notion that the same
will not be experienced by him or in his case it would be different.
There is a trend or rather people consider it fashionable/
intellectual to link ageing with mind/enthusiasm. I, being no exception to the
trend started to believe that ageing/old age has more to do with your state of
mind rather than physical conditions.
However, Indian Veds never linked old age to state of mind
and always stressed that life of human body is time bound and its bound to
decay under the influence of time. Despite all the same organs being present as
at the time of birth/ youth the human body does not function/respond the same
way in old age as it responded once in youth.
My grandfather who would assure his presence (despite being
miles always) on my birthday year after year would hardly recognize me by
face/voice in his old age days. Well I am pretty sure that his love for me
would not suddenly diminish (for those who consider old age as state of mind)
the fact remains that his senses are slowing depleting. I am hard convinced
that human body would never remain the same as its now for you. And its better
that everyone makes peace with this truth rather than being under illusion.
We spend our life time in nourishing relations and
accumulating wealth (so as to create assets for future) but in the end we end
up alone at Hospital Bed with some unknown faces & machines. While during
our life time we are selective of what we eat, what med we take or what goes
inside us but in old age we are at left with what others decides as best for
our body. At old age a person realizes that to whom he gave time are in their
own race to make relations and wealth.
We all know that reciting God’s name will help us /carry
with us after this body too. Wisdom is implementing that knowledge early.
Dedicated to my Grandfather,
Who would stay awake whole night to fan me in days of
blackout,
Who would buy every toy and sweet I lay my eyes upon,
Who would arrange rickshaw for me even if I have to walk
for 500M,
Who would remain awake till 2.00 AM to receive me at
station,
Who would pray only for my happiness and success
And with whom I was not present in his last moments, being
in rat race.
