The Problems Evolve, So Do We!

This post came at a time when I was laughing looking at my son's diary. There was an entry in the last page, written by the kid in his scrawling handwriting - 'I came late to school today' and I had to sign that. It reminded me of a time when the biggest problem of the day was having not done the school homework or coming late to school. I can still feel the sense of dread and fear that struck the heart when the homework was incomplete or the teacher caught me coming late to school. 

We definitely evolve during the college-years. Pending homework, coming late to school, not having studied for the exams - these become a trend to be followed and something to be taken casually. There is slight fear of the situation, no doubt, but we learn to put on our brave face and to pretend that we are not much bothered by it. 

If only the gravest problems we faced in life were something akin to those faced by us in school and college!

The real test of life begins when we step out into the world, trying to find our way and to make our mark. The problems are severe. The friends we had during our childhood aren't there beside us to help us get through. We are no longer young and carefree. But still, most of us manage to find a way to get through life. 

I have often wondered - what changes our outlook? How does it happen that as we grow older, the gravity of the problems increases but our attitude towards them gets more casual? While a pending or incomplete homework used to give us sleepless nights in the childhood, an impending diagnosis of health in our adulthood makes us shrug and say - 'whatever will be, will be; no point in worrying.' What changes our level of acceptance? 

I see my kid struggling with his homework and studies and I wish time would freeze here, at this point where the biggest problem of the kid's life is mastering Telugu language (which is foreign to him and to me as well). I know that once he grows up and steps out into the real world, he would have to face much more. But then I am reminded of my journey as well as that of everyone who has reached this point in life and I know that even though problems will come, the kid will develop the capacity and the attitude to deal with them. 

Childhood and youth are definitely the best years of life. But adulthood has a charm of its own! I like the quietened pace of my life now. No exhilaration, thrill or adventure for me; just peace, comfort and solitude! Adulthood softens the mind and heart, I believe. While it necessarily doesn't bring in wisdom (case in point - yours truly), it does bring in experience which is a great teacher. There is also a quiet confidence in being ourselves. There is the freedom of no longer wanting to please the society or follow any trends. It is indeed a good age to be an adult!

There was never a time in our lives when we did not have any problems. We just learnt to deal with them in a better way as we grew older. And while we do not know what the morrow will bring, we do know that we will develop the capacity to handle it. 

After all, that is what life is about - learning and evolving in every stage and with every problem we face!