- Why are we faced with so many problems?
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I have discovered a new Bryce's Law, to wit: "The older you get, the more complicated life becomes." This came to me recently as I spoke with some contemporaries who have complained about the burdens accompanying age. I'm not talking about physical pain but rather the hectic pace of today along with the social ramifications accompanying it. I have one friend who is at war with his cable company who has not properly credited his account after overcharging him for several months. Another friend complains about the service policy of his two year old car, evidently nothing is free. And others express dissatisfaction with customer service issues or perhaps traffic has become overbearing or they are simply tired of waiting in lines, etc.
As for me, I have noticed physicians are less inclined to speak with you, the patient, and want you to go to a web site for follow-up questions, such as those regarding a diagnosis. I'm sorry, but it is not very "user friendly' and I'm less inclined to visit a doctor again if I cannot speak to him. And as you get older, your patience grows thin to the point you want to blow your stack.
I believe as we grow older we assume more responsibilities, e.g., we purchase homes, boats, recreational vehicles, investments, etc.; we assume new responsibilities in our work requiring new skills; we have to fight with people at work, in our neighborhood, or perhaps in a nonprofit, and; children compound the problem as we may love them, but they take up considerable time and attention. We have to maintain all of this, which is not a problem when we are younger, but after the age of 60 we start to wonder why we do the same things over and over again. Maintaining all of these things requires considerable patience, something we start to lose over time.
We find we hate voice mail, sitting in traffic, ordering products on-line, communicating with idiot customer service reps, robo-calls, mysterious invoices for products we know nothing about, on-line banking, and an endless barrage of advertisements on television, none of which are aimed at our age group. Basically, we feel neglected and ignored. Normally we would argue and fight back, but now we're too tired to do so. Because people have worn us down, we are less likely to be adventurous, and less likely to assume risk. We just do not want to step on any more meadow muffins.
And we finally stop and ask ourselves, "What the hell am I doing?"
The answer becomes rather obvious, we learn to keep things simple, the old KISS approach (Keep It Simple, Stupid). No, we no longer want to rip up and remodel the kitchen. It will keep. No, we no longer need the fancy sports car, just something that is easy to maintain and offers decent fuel efficiency. No, we no longer yearn to visit Timbuktu as we no longer want to drag all of our flotsam and jetsam with us, and what about the grandchildren, and besides, who is going to watch our pets?
No, "simplify, simplify, simplify," is our mantra, and the only way to maintain our sanity.
Just remember, "Youth is our only true vacation in life, and our most unappreciated." (another Bryce's Law)
Keep the Faith!
P.S. - Also do not forget my books, "How to Run a Nonprofit" and "Tim's Senior Moments", both available in Printed and eBook form.
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Tim Bryce is an author, freelance writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 40 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb1557@gmail.com
For Tim's columns, see: timbryce.com
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Copyright © 2020 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.
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