Old Age:The Grace,The Challenges
By Abdullahi Yusuf
By some English Dictionary definitions,
old age refers to the later stage in a person’s life, typically following middle age that is often associated with retirement from work or active responsibilities, reduced strength and grey hair.
The United Nations defines an old person as someone who is over 60 years of age,adding however, that families and communities often use other socio-cultural referents to define age, including family status, physical appearance, or age-related health conditions.
The foregoing definitions tally much with our local meaning of old age by which a person is considered old when he attains the age of 60 years and above.
At the youthful age of say between 18 years and 50 years, we can afford to do so many things unhindered.We can run;we can jump; we can kick,partake in sporting activities and even indulge in physical combats, without sustaining any serious fatigue or bodily harm.
In this age bracket also, our behaviour is characterized by youthful exhuberance, restlessness, restiveness, adventures and a rush in taking decisions, among other tendencies associated with young age.
But from the age of 40 years through 45 years up to 50 years,all these rhythms and exuberance begin to wane, giving way to caution, thoughtfulness, tactfulness and maturity in handling issues and the persons concerned.
At this stage also,we begin to think less about the future in life, focusing more on our spiritual life and the hereafter.We begin to bother less about mundane things and pay more attention to issues that will see us through in our lifetime.
Furthermore,old age comes with grace and so many challenges.The challenges of old age are many just as they vary from one individual to another.It has been established, however, that many,if not most people, encounter health challenges at old age.
At rife age, many of us develop ailments such as hypertension,heart diseases, diabetes, arthritis, dementia, hearing loss, sight problems and insomnia, among other health issues.
The elderly people do not usually find it funny managing these health challenges due to issues including slow response to treatment, lack of appropriate care and funding constraints, which sometimes force them to think of giving up before their time is up.
Another major challenge of old age is loss of our good looks(handsomeness, beauty and smartness) which occur due to prolonged tear and wear on the body.This condition makes the aging individual, especially woman,give up on fashion or anything that might improve his or her looks.
In fact, many of us would stop looking ourselves in the mirror so as not to see those wrinkles,grey hairs,eye bags and the decaying teeth.Because these features would remind us that we have indeed seen better days.
As we continue to age, also,we realize that we are gradually losing childhood friends, relatives and classmates with whom we discuss current happenings in the society,recall old memories,share experiences and advice on how to deal with issues that affect us.
This situation turns out to be very demoralizing, as it makes us feel lonely and reminds us that we are gradually approaching expiry.
Similarly,as we continue to advance in age,we gradually begin to lose relevance in the scheme of things in our immediate environment; the younger folks will be ignoring us believing that we have nothing to offer again,apart from “archaic ideas” that cannot work in present-day society.
But the consolation is that old age is a Grace.It is a God-given opportunity for us to experience so many things in life – the good,the bad and ugly, which help us to learn lessons that enable us to deal with difficult issues and even assist our younger ones in solving their problems.
Another grace of old age is that the condition makes us sober and reflective, recalling the mistakes we made, our actions or inactions, and the decisions we took in the past.
More importantly, old age affords us the chance to reconcile with God, having offended Him in so many ways in the past, some of which we may have forgotten.It gives us the opportunity to repent and pray Him to forgive us,and promise not to indulge in sinful acts, again.
It is imperative, therefore,for an elderly person to thank his Creator,Allah(SWT), for giving him the golden opportunity and/or chance to live long and sustaining him or her to witness so many things which teach them essential lessons that they can impart or pass on to others.
Because so many other individuals have not gotten the opportunity to experience such grace as they died at various stages of young age, some even at infancy.
What is left for the aged is to stay resolute in reaping the benefits of old age – continue to have faith in Allah(SWT),pray to Him sustainably,stay strong,positive,healthy and pursue legitimate means of livelihood.May we continue to age gracefully.