Man and Woman
Note: This article also pertains to photographers and creative artists.
Not all who are old see what is important. There are plenty of deluded old people who contribute to our foolish behavior as much as the naive young.
Only some see better when they age. Others are blinded by their convictions, money, greed, their political stance, the business they are in, circumstance and their way of life, which are commonly guided by the powers that be.
The assumption that one gets wiser as they age is not automatically true. Aging can have detrimental effects on ones ability to reason. We have masses of people that are living proof – some of them are running our congress and others have recently sat in the oval office or in governor’s chairs. We have scads of the retired who do little more than cast their shadows in places like Florida and Arizona. Growing older does not mean growing wiser. Growing older doesn’t signify growth.
To understand the world, one must spend time realizing the world. It means a lifetime of conscientious observation of life. It requires a lifetime of experience that is directed towards understanding. It requires heartfelt compassion and a humanitarian mindset. Enlightenment requires a devotion to a life of understanding, good judgment, and logical thinking.
We are where we are at this point in time, because of political and corporate zealots who have focused our attention on personal gain rather than human needs.
A wise man/woman is guided by his/her ability to consider life. A wise man/woman thinks about where he/she fits in the entire scheme of living on planet earth. A truly wise man/woman wants the best for humanity and lives his/her life accordingly. A truly wise person understands that the world is a unique place in the known universe. They understand the interconnection of all the forces we call life. Wise people care about life. They care about all living things, which include the environment, war, starvation, homelessness, equality, quality of life, and the list goes on and on.
A wise man/woman envisions a future, which is preserved for the young to grow and for life to thrive.
Old and wise are two separate human characteristics. One is simply time. The other is time used well.
Please have a look at some of my other posts here.
I cover many photographic topics and techniques in my book. – Great Photography book for any creative Photographer.
I am currently working on a new book about photography, which I will announce when it comes closer to the publishing date.
Rethinking Digital Photography – John Neel
NOTICE of Copyright: THIS POSTING AS WELL AS ALL PHOTOGRAPHS, GALLERY IMAGES, AND ILLUSTRATIONS ARE COPYRIGHT © JOHN NEEL AND ARE NOT TO BE USED FOR ANY PURPOSE WITHOUT WRITTEN CONSENT FROM THE WRITER, THE PHOTOGRAPHER AND/OR lensgarden.com. THE IDEAS EXPRESSED ARE THE PROPERTY OF THE PHOTOGRAPHER AND THE AUTHOR.
