If you clicked this title your probably asking, “old enough for what?” Old enough to drink? To Drive? To Vote? To become an adult? What exactly are we talking about here? At what age is Old enough to do what? Some would say it depends on the country, while others would say it depends on the state laws. But my real question is “At what age does one become wise?”
Ya’ know, someone not so long ago, told my 19-year-old daughter that she would not be an adult until she was 25 years of age! Well, I don’t agree with that, per say!
First, if a person can vote at 18 years of age, and drink at 21 I would hope adults didn’t create a law that allowed children to vote or to drink. Because what good decisions could be made if children, were getting drunk and had majority vote? (This entire statement was sort of a joke but not, obviously!) When I think of our laws here in America, I do question the many decisions these so called “adults” have made over the years. Especially concerning our laws or state regulations. The truth is, I have met many 40- and 50-year-olds who are still living with child like mentality and have not gained any wisdom over the years. In fact, my 19-year-old and 14-year-old daughters are much wiser than many people over the age of 25. Actually, I have seen many people I know personally wake up and do the same things day in and day out for the past 5, 10, or 20 years. Their life never changes and neither do their circumstances.
So, why are humans so hung up on age? Furthermore, at what age is old enough for one to realize “it is time”? Time to what? A time to do any of it! A time to vote, a time to drink, a time to drive, time to have kids, time to get married, a time to make better decisions, and how about a time to grow up!!! When is the right time for any of it? Especially when most of that stuff has a beginning, a middle, and an end. I mean why does age matter when all things come to an end anyway, right? I mean in reality, we all feel a little lonely at some point in our life, no matter what age we are. A moment of loneliness is inevitable.
The Truth Behind Loneliness
The human being must be the most complex species roaming our planet. In fact, sometimes I feel very alone, even when I am surrounded in a room full of people. Mostly when I’m around people who have closed minded ideas. In other words, no wisdom! I was raised with a Lebanese father in America, so I can tell you that feeling uncomfortable, not fitting in, and staying silent in a room full of people has become quite normal for me. But in a society where everyone is so outspoken and doesn’t really care who is in the room, it’s like we’ve lost all respect for ourselves, for others, and for boundaries. I’m used to blending in as a Lebanese female living in America. Keeping my eyes open and my mouth shut was the rule in my home growing up. I didn’t speak until spoken to and I had to always watch what I said and who I said it to! If I didn’t, there were consequences. Bottom line! Although, I know that is not the way of today’s society, I do think there are some lessons in life worth embracing.
As children we grow up with parents who have these rules, or no rules at all. And we try to fit in to our environments when we become a prime age of curiosity. We can either choose to run wild from too many rules, or we can run wild from not having any rules at all. On the other hand, we could become tamer if we have no rules, because we’ve experienced the temptations and turbulence of a life with no rules. Similarly, we can become too aware and too cautious later in life if we had too many rules. So, it just depends on our individual life experiences, the seeds that were planted into us throughout life and of course, the realties we create for ourselves.
Loneliness only comes from an emotion of not being in community with other like-minded individuals.
I don’t know what your religious beliefs are, but there is a history book called the bible and it has many stories. In the very first story, called Genesis, the first time the creator says “it’s not good” is when He created man to be alone. Humans are not meant to be alone. In fact, no species of its kind in all of creation is meant to be alone. There is in fact Male and Female of every single species walking our planet today.
Age is Just a Number Your Wisdom Determines Your Growth
I don’t know what your gender is, and I don’t really care to know! Especially since we are using way too many gender pronouns today. And if I am totally honest, my dispute on that could create an entire blog or maybe even a book! Which I have no time for right now! This article today was created to help those who feel like their age has literally defined their entire existence. I don’t believe our age should determine our life or our experiences, but rather our stages of life. I believe that the wisdom we gain throughout the years has more to do with growth then our age does. And I Believe that one can experience true growth at any stage of life through knowledge and wisdom. If you’re not learning, you’re not changing, and if you’re not changing, you’re not growing! It really is that simple!
Every single human being on this planet has experienced emotions such as pain, loneliness, contentment, and excitement. We have also experienced connection, love, passion, and joy. I can even go as far as to say that we have experiences loneliness in love and pain in things we once got pleasure from. I don’t care what anyone says, there is no material thing, no person, no experience more exhilarating in life then gaining wisdom. All love stories and relationships have an ending. Whether individually or mutually decided or by death, all relationships come to an end eventually leaving you in pain or feeling lonely. That is why we need to surround ourselves in “community” not alone with one or two in solitary but full communities. Material things can break, get lost or taken away. People lose connections or die. People and things don’t last and there is always another thing or person to desire. The good emotions we carry around from people or things never last long. There are too many stages of life. And we all experience different stages at different ages!
But wisdom, that is forever! Growth never ends! There is always room for more growth in our human existence. No matter our age or our gender we can continue to learn and grow and get more knowledge. We can search for people and gain a moment of pleasure. We can search for things and gain a brief taste of excitement of something new. But when we search for Wisdom, “our cup runneth over” forever. There is no end, there is no limit, there is no age, and there is no loss when we gain wisdom.
So Why are We Misunderstood and What Age is Old Enough?
Generation after generation we have judged and been judged and misunderstood. If you’ve been feeling lost, scared, confused about life, stressed about your age, have people judging you based on your age, or just completely misunderstood by others, I would say don’t allow yourself to get too caught up with age! Age is just a number. Remember this, wisdom has no age limit, but there is joy, there is good judgment, protection, and in light of all life’s struggles, in gaining wisdom, there is understanding and an intelligence beyond human comprehension. When we gain a desire for wisdom, we gain life lived through a lens of perception. Awareness and discernment cannot be bought or purchased no matter how old you are. Behind wisdom is not an age, but rather a purpose and excitement for this beautiful thing we get to call life. There is no depression, no heartbreak, and no long-term trauma where there is wisdom! There is just an understanding of all things. Get wisdom and no matter what age you are, you will discover a life filled with so much emotion that your cup will overflow onto anyone you meet. You will be understood because you will have the knowledge to know when to speak and when not to. You will know who to connect with and what group of individuals to stay far from. You will know better in all situations because you took the time to get knowledge before the experience even happens. No matter a persons age or yours, you will be the one who will always have a knowing and understanding inside you, that is meant for only you. Being misunderstood because of age, is only from lack of knowledge to respond wisely to those around you. Because age is just the number of years you’ve journeyed here, your true view of life is in the Wisdom you gain in the journey.
“Get Wisdom and Gain a Great Life”
