Oh, to be young again. This is a familiar lament of old folks. The bromide implies that if we knew then what we know now, the years of our youth would have soared. As if, with experience and accumulated wisdom, all the bumps in the road of the teen years could be paved smooth. Papa has accumulated a measure of experience and perhaps a bit of wisdom. However, it would be a foolish dream to think I’d be equipped to tackle the approaching years of your lives. A certain level of rigidety has set in alongside experience and whatever wisdom might exist for me. I am talking about an intangible beyond obvious arthritic stiffness. ( I am certainly slow physically. ) Other facaulties seem in decent shape. However, I believe what would hold me back is a missing fluidity of spirit. There is a reason your current adolescence is known as the wonder years. An intangible inner force from my teen years only remains in memory form.
From my perspective, resilience was a necessary companion for me to traverse those long ago years. To be young again and make good choices, avoid mistakes, have an understanding of the human condition and plot a sensible life course sounds quite reasonable; to an old man. Missing for me would be an inner innocence that opens one’s mind, soul and emotions to the freshness of new experiences while searching for a personal version of wisdom. Of course, you should try to make good choices and decisions. Yet, hold loose reins on the effervescent buoyancy of internal youth. Don’t fret over ups and downs. Life is very fast in the teen years. You’ll find more sunshine than clouds.
In the 1950’s and 60’s every day seemed to bring new experiences for me. I hope you have a similar chance. Contrasted with the age of the internet, it may seem that Papa grew up in a confined life style. The world outside my family consisted of limited radio/television, newspapers, interacting with classmates, teachers, coaches as well as known adult relatives/neighbors. Yet, such simple encounters had the capacity to knock the socks off Papa. I could feel the world expanding deep inside my core. All good in retrospect. I saw a few red flags when growing up. (If to date, I have?) For example, it was Jimmy S. who beckoned to smoke cigarettes in the alley. Or, Jimmy K. who believed glass windows were invented to make use of an abundance of rocks. Develop a radar for knuckleheads and go in opposite directions fom them.
You will have the same capacity inside you during your years of growth. I wish it could be as simple for you as it was for me. At the time I felt I was getting enough bumps on the ride. However, The your being inudated from disparate sources that are beyond my imagination scares me. You can sit home on a device and be flooded with hundreds of opinions/photos/advice/craziness/lures/ and dangerous material that never entered my neighborhood. Where will you start in sorting through the clutter? That’s a task worth undertakeing because you sure as dickens don’t want to miss out on experiencing youth’s wonderment that can spring from within you. Don’t get confused. Get to the sorting process. Find your trusted sources to clear out the chaff. It’s hard to lean on or trust a digital entity as a friend. Folks to trust are still out there. They remain close to home, family and school. (Avoid the Jimmys of the current world.) Avoiding confusion from digital saturation is my hope for you. I want you to enjoy every moment of your wonder years. I am confident thatyou’ll succeed because you are resilent in your own right.