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For you old folks!

#21
Experience, especially first hand experience, teaches you to become more perceptive, understanding, self aware, and hopefully broadens your mentality, open mindedness and non-judgementalism. This isn't totally age related though, I know plenty of whipper-snappers with a heightened sense of perception and perspective.

Musicians never really 'grow up' in the normal sense imo, that fascination keeps you young in a way, it's a good thing, it's a very good thing :)
 
#22
I'm still basically a teenager stuck in a rapidly failing body.

Basically, when I was a young buck I used to be able to do really really stupid stuff, and be OK with it. I've been in a high speed collision (I was wearing a seat belt and not the driver) and had a sore shoulder for a few days. I used to consume what had to be toxic quantities assorted recreational stuff, (I never forgot to breathe, but I prolly should have.) I got into a physical confrontation with what must have been 20 other people, and amazingly got nothing worse than a detached retina out of the deal. I once fell off of a roof (2 story house) and got nothing worse than the wind knocked out of me.

These days, I'm pretty mellow. I go to bed at a reasonable time, and my back hurts when I wake up in the morning. I drink a couple of glasses of red wine, and I get acid reflux like you wouldn't believe. lately my feet have been bugging me after spending 6 to eight hours standing at a gig the night before...........

Getting older can be a bitch, but over all, I think it beats the alternative......
 
#23
Kwesi said:
If you, at any point, have ever thought "Man, I'm getting old!" then this thread is aimed at you!

I always hear from the older crowd that young folks don't know anything, they haven't lived long enough, they don't have enough life experience, and that we don't have much authority to talk about certain topics. My question is are there older guys n' gals out there that haven't noticed much of a change in their own attitude since they were in their late teens and early 20s? Do you feel the same about stuff in general as you did before or is your outlook on life significantly different? I think most of us kids would like to believe that we won't change but I rarely seem to hear from people who don't think they have over the years.

Just a question from a young guy who doesn't know anything :p.
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When I was 18 I thought I didn't know anything.

18 years later, I'm sure I don't know anything.

The other thing age helps with is perspective... The problems we think are a big deal when we're young sometimes fall away into irrelevance with mounds of experience.
 
#25
Kwesi said:
...I always hear from the older crowd that young folks don't know anything, they haven't lived long enough, they don't have enough life experience, ...
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I do tend to think that way about young people, but it comes from humillity, not from arrogance, if that makes any sense. When I was 23 and had just graduated from college, I thought I knew everything and was smarter than everyone. I'm now 45, and I would say that all of the most important things I've learned about life happened after I turned 30. I realize now, how little I really knew back then.

I hope that when I'm 65 I will be much wiser than I am now.

So when I hear a 22 year old talking like they have all the answers to all of society's problems, or raving about the latest action movie, or thinking that they are the first band in the world to discover that electric guitars can be played really loud, I go :rolleyes: . I was there, and I'm past it.
 
#26
I started to respond, but it made my head hurt.

So I'll just say that at 27, I'm a lot different from who I was at 21. Though Uncle Fluffy's (I think it was his) tree ring analogy was a good one. Most of the stuff from when I was younger - personality traits and the like - are still there
 
#31
macaroni tony said:
I still feel like an old man. Most of the people in my congregation are either teenagers or their 50 yr old parents
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Ouch. I am one of the 50 year old parents. Kids are in college, by August both will be married. Still playing on the worship team at church and gigging with the hobby bands. Perspective has changed, but like has been mentioned before my values have been consistent since the early 20's. We won't talk about the teen years, when what I thought was cool was in fact being a jerk.

What really hit home was when the wife reminded me that I've been playing on the worship team for 20 years. We were discussing the mixing of the music during service yesterday (I was not playing this week). Doesn't seem like it's been 20 years... Life certainly goes by fast.

- Paul
 
#32
Even at 20 I'm quickly realizing that I don't understand or know a lot about things that I previously thought I did back in high school. It's both refreshing and terrifying at the same time, to be honest. It's refreshing because I'm no longer self-confident in my ignorance (and thus less likely to act a fool), and yet terrifying because I really don't know the right answer to a lot of things. At least now I can admit that to myself and take the time to study things thoroughly in order to come to a much more educated conclusion and opinion.
 
#35
Great thread, Kwesi!

I've reached the ripe old age of 57, and there are times when I still can't believe I'm here. Time has just flown by, and the events that have happened in my life are all lined up, one right after another, for me to review and learn from. I've learned so much I don't even know where to begin. Think i'll just hit on a couple of things I've learned along the way.

Family and friends - can't be stressed enough, having a close, loving family and a few good friends is so important. I'm so fortunate that I have a wife who I deeply love, three wonderful adult children who love and care about their Dad, and some close friends who I can hang with and who won't walk out on me when it comes to listening to my BS! You young guys out there, I know you're lonely, I've been there myself, but there's a special someone out there for you. Find her (or him, as the case may be), fall in love, and stay with her and raise a family. When you get to my age, you'll be glad you did!

Music - the only way you should even think about stopping to make music is if they cut off your arms and legs! Even then, you can still sing! Young guys, never be afraid or too proud to play with old guys, they may have a thing or two to teach you that will help you along the way. Old guys, never be condescending or dismissive when playing with young guys, and be lavish with your advice and praises. Remember, you were once there yourself!

Our old bodies - it's a source of constant frustration for us old guys. Once we were fleet of foot as all young guys are. We could satisfy a woman all night. We could party till the wee hours. We could get out of bed in the morning without pain. We could eat anything we desired. Hell, we could even touch our toes! Our bellies were flat, our heads were full of hair, our faces had no wrinkles, our eyesight was sharp. But now.... hell, I don't even want to talk about it!

But aging does have its upside. For example:

I don't drive my car like a fool anymore. Cops don't give me a second look!

I eat reasonable portions of food now. And I stay away from McD's!

I go to bed at a reasonable hour and get plenty of sleep at night. I need to!

I read books more than I watch TV now, except when the Patriots are playing!

I don't suffer fools so gladly anymore. I reserve the right to rage against fools who screw up my day!

I have a ton of great memories to draw upon whenever I want, and the collection keeps growing every day!


Kwesi, just one piece of advice I want to leave you, and that is to enjoy your youth. You'll only have one chance to live it, so enjoy it while you can. Live big and bold! You'll have great memories when you get to our stage of life. And believe me when I say that all us old farts would kill to be in your shoes, if only for a few minutes! :)
 
#37
HEIST said:
I always say that every 5 years feels like a life time. Things change a lot in 5 years, whether it is situation or your self.
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Exactly, Heist! I was going to post the line from an Indigo Girls song (and now I will): "Every five years or so I look back on my life and I have a good laugh."

Still immature in lots of ways, still an idiot. I've learned to do a little laundry every day and to do the dishes rather than leaving them indefinitely for someone else.

I've learned that I really don't have all the answers of parenting and that you really can't anticipate how your kids will turn out as teenagers.

When I was 20 I thought I was going to go out and make the world a better place. Now I realize that I have enough of a challenge just making me a better person. But I also realize that making me a better person will be my part of making the world a better place.
 
#39
I definitely know and understand WAAAAAAY more stuff now than I did as a youth. I also know and understand that there is WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY more stuff that I don't know and understand than I thought there was back then - if you follow me.
 

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