Life's Metrics

---

It’s interesting how modern Western society has devalued people who are in their later stages of life. It’s as if humans are nothing more than entries into actuarial tables and formulas, depreciating assets that ultimately become liabilities in government budgets and inconveniences in family plans. What about those traditions and stories that give meaning to our lives? When did the wise perspectives based on years of experience and hard toil loose their value? As the foundations of families are shaken under the pressure of divorce, addictions, teen pregnancies etc., where do we turn when the family sage withers away in the assisted care facility or nursing home?

James Hillman writes in his book The Force of Character, the post-enlightenment period marked a changed perspective regarding our older citizens. This new perspective is grounded in physiology as contrasted with psychology and philosophy. We now measure our older citizens based on memory loss, diminished mobility, frequent urination and a host of other maladies. How can we assist our older citizens to hold longer the “qualities” of being youthful? The legion of marketers and pill pushers are here to explain how!

I’m a little sensitive about this issue due to my recent cataract surgery. Thanks to the marvels of modern medicine, I now have 20/20 distance vision. Nevertheless, a simple event such as cataract surgery provides a vivid reminder of the aging process. I don’t want to be evaluated by the physical metrics. As a newly minted member of my sixth decade on this planet, my drive is not to hold onto my youth, although staying mentally and physically healthy is important to me. My drive is to let emerge my true character and to care less whether others agree with it, or like it. I want to be the steady voice that adds meaning to a modern world that for some is spinning out of control. I want to be the go-to source for empathy and honest advise. I want to embrace the true purpose of this period of my life, a period when the struggles for legitimacy, prestige, advancement and personal ego are upstaged by the quest for true character and personal understanding.

There is a meditative feeling when you begin to let go of the expectations of society and others, and look inward for what’s truly important. It is a spiritual quest, and its very calming. In this process you will find the seeds for what is your true passion and purpose on this planet. Someday I hope to be a centenarian and those who matter most will measure me not by physiological metrics but by philosophical qualities. This is the most important life metric.

#LifesMetrics