Typically, it’s the young that learn from the old. We appreciate the wisdom and experience of those that have been around longer and learned more than us.
But it can really be a two-way street. If you open your mind to it, there are many lessons we can learn from others, even children.
At Wellington Estates, we believe that you can have a life full of endless opportunities to explore and enjoy. What a better way than to learn from children who embody these qualities.
Here are three lessons that elders can learn from youngsters:
Failure Doesn’t Exist
Have you ever seen a child call it quits after failing at something the first time?
Probably not. They don’t view failure as a sign of incompetence or inability. Nor do they get embarrassed to try and possibly not make it. They simply keep trying, usually until they develop a certain level of competence in whatever they’re trying to master.
Where in life have you given up because you told yourself you’re too old or whatnot. Give your forgotten goals another shot.
Living the Present Moment
People don’t start worrying about the future until a certain age. The same goes for dwelling on the past. But young children usually simply live in the present and enjoy the moment.
Though you’re a responsible adult who thinks about future consequences and previous experiences, you probably get caught up in it too. How much more content could you be if you were able to experience the moment while you live it?
Thankfully, there are practices that can help you achieve this, like mindfulness meditation. But before anything else, pay attention to a young child for a few moments so you see what you’re missing out on.
Aspirations
Children have wild aspirations. They want to be astronauts, future presidents, doctors, lawyers, artists, and whatever else they can imagine and find appealing. They don’t worry too much about reality.
When we get older we stifle our hopes and dreams and we blame it on reality. Now a healthy sense of reality is vital, but it can also be limiting and hold you back.
Which aspirations can you rekindle?
What are some other things elders can learn from youngsters?
Please share in the comments below.