Reflections on life when we regard events and choices we’ve
made could give us reason to consider the
thought “Youth is wasted on the young” attributed to twentieth century
dramatist George Bernard Shaw. That seems counter to what life is about – a
never-ending learning process.
I’ve also
heard the suggestion we should live life backwards but I could never figure out
exactly how that would work.
A twentieth century tune even had lyrics recorded by
numerous popular singers of the time that spoke of youth being wasted on the
young in relation to being in love. Here’s
Tony Bennett from that era singing still in our current twenty-first century:
What do you think – is youth wasted on the young whether or
not in terms of falling in love?
How could we possibly live life backwards?
How could we possibly live life backwards?
I worry more about the current generation of youths who seem not to be taught in large enough numbers about accountability and responsibility for our own actions. I tend to think though every elderly generation felt that way as they watched what the 'kids' did. That doesn't mean this one can't be right *s*
ReplyDeleteCannot live life backwards, or you would go crazy! At least I would. Youth is wasted on the young, but as you said, if we knew everything we have to have the experience of youth.
ReplyDeleteI've always thought the term wasted on the young meant that when we're young we really don't know what's important and we spend too much time on frivolous stuff. The term 'living my life backward' I say all the time but I'm not sure the way I use it is the generally accepted way its meant. I mean in a downsizing way, reliving memories that certain things evoke as I find new homes for stuff that I've treasured.
ReplyDeleteI tend to live in the past, loving classical music of the 1700s and 1800s, always googling ancient composers. And I tend to think of past events in my life, good and bad. Nothing wrong with that.
ReplyDeleteI have always been a proponent that we should retire and receive pensions from 18 to 38 when we are full of energy and ideas, then work till we drop to pay for it all:)) Somehow I never got that idea to take off.
ReplyDeleteI don't think youth is wasted on the young. They take the opportunity to do all sorts of interesting and useful things, like political protest, backpacking around the world, reading great novels, even writing books, like Sally Rooney (who's 28), and Zadie Smith, who published her first novel at 25.
ReplyDeleteYouth is as wasted on the young as it was when we were young. I believe that there is nothing called a generation gap, only a memory gap. If anything, modern world offers more scope to do many things for the young that did not exist when we were young and I say to them to exploit those opportunities.
ReplyDeleteWhenever I hear that saying Youth Is Wasted On The Young, I just shake my head. We are, in our maturity, the sum total of our youthful experiences. Whatever we did in our youth made us what we are in our older years.
ReplyDeleteWould I like to go back and tell the Younger Me that the crap I worried about then was truly trivial? Yes. But here I am, and whatever I went through then made me who I am now.
Youth is what allows people the strength to become older.
ReplyDeleteI think it was Mark Twain who said "Too soon old, too late smart."
If not, I'll take credit.
I don't think that youth is "wasted" on the young since ALL of life is packed with learning … but I do wish I could go back and do parts of it over.
ReplyDeleteI'd love the energy of my youthful self back but in spite of everything in the agey me, I am at peace today. Something I didn't have for many decades. Aging backwards makes no sense. My contentment came at a huge price. As it does for so many.
ReplyDeleteXO
WWW
Ah yes - living backwards-myouthing like Merlin in Camelot. Interesting. When I was young I was much more of a firebrand - aka progressive before progressive existed. With my newly minted degree in political science I was convinced I had the magic formula and it was so easy. I used to butt heads with my card carrying member of the John Birch Society Uncle Chuck. He was a disciple of Ayn Rand and thought there should never be an impediment to his ability to make money. When we are young we know what we learned in books in svhool. Then we entered the real world. In my case things changed and the world became very gray. Distinct black and white no longer existed.When we were screaming to the world that if we were old enough at 18 to fight a war in Asia, then we were damn sure old enough to vote. My poli sci prof that quarter simply laughed and said he didn't care - we would not vote anyway. Turns out he was right - at least until the last mid terms. Youth is wasted on the young because the young have insufficient life experience in most cases to make informed choices.
ReplyDeleteYouth never is wasted, unless we choose to ignore the lessons inherent in its delights and trials. Sometimes it takes decades to begin to understand the significance of certain events, but that's just life.
ReplyDeleteReally have appreciated all of your comments and perspective on youth and aging though I haven't responded to each of you specifically.
ReplyDelete