AGE AND MATURITY: ANY LINK? BY MARTIN BECK NWORAH

On many occasions,I've watched as adults suppress their younger ones
into buying their own thoughts and decisions because they're elderly
and thought to be more experienced in life issues. The truth is that
there is no link between age and maturity;the real link is between
maturity and experience. This is because what we refer to as
experience in this part of our world are regrets,lost
opportunities,hatred for one's life and the "I get am before
mentality"...who possesses all these traits? ADULTS. Many of them,out
of fear of failure or other phobias especially trusting and dealing
with the wrong people in life all through their life,now feel it's
their birth right to advice you.
Now I'm not saying that its wrong to seek elderly advice,all I'm
saying is that getting such from the wrong source can adversely affect
your productivity as a young vibrant individual. Talking about
experience;it comes when you're ready for it. Maturity comes with
decisions. When a man who is afraid to face his worst fears advises
you as an elder,you already know where you'll end up. Growing old is
compulsory but growing up is optional;that is why a man can continue
to live in regrets all through his life time. Now tell me,what type of
experience or knowledge will you gain from a man who can't distinguish
his left from his right?
A friend of mine told me he always sought the opinion of his 19 year
old son who is studying Economics before taking any major decision. I
asked him what a 19 year old could offer to a self-made business mogul
like him. He smiled and said,"you find the best gold in rare places".
And only then did he tell me that he was able to rise above many of
the risks,stress and pressures of disappointment that he suffered on
his way to the top simply because he didn't see his boy as a "boy".
In our modern society,I'm sorry to say this but we have more adults
who are unhappy with their life than we are unhappy with our country.
They continue to blame their long dead parents,relatives,society and
everyone who cares to listen as the reason for their failure in life.
And lest I forget,they'll be the first to advice you on how best to be
successful in life...really? I know what you sat down and saw,that I
can't see it even while standing;but what stopped you from
implementing that same wisdom in your life? Ok,you didn't listen to
those who were advising you then;so since you can't convince
yourself;how on earth can you convince anyone?
Finally,it's a bitter pill to swallow but I believe adults are the
reason why we are suffering in this nation. They make all the policies
and castigate the young to be hopeless,restless and anything
"less";while they squander our future and advice us into becoming
"life regrets" like many of them. So when next you meet any of them
who tells you that maturity comes with age,feel free to engage the
person in all life ramifications. Till you get to the Promised Land,I
will be waiting for when we shall share a glass of water and thank God
for the gift of grace for the race.