Why You Should Have Friends Of Different Ages

How I learned to feel alive and grateful

“Those Instagrammers don’t show you the truth about new motherhood. I obsessed about giving birth, but it’s just a few hours compared to everything else,” said my cousin.

I told her that if she showered and got fully dressed, it was a major win. And that six weeks marks a key turning point. It was helpful to her to know what was normal and what to expect.

We live in the echo chambers of social media or our peer group. We hang out with others at the same stage of life, but seeking older and younger friends is a great life practice.

My 59-year-old self wishes I could time travel and tell my 29-year-old self a thing or two. Had I been friends with someone who’d already walked the path, I might have avoided some obvious mistakes.

Having much younger and older friends helps me grow.

From my younger friends, I learn about new technology, cultural trends, and music. Their gung ho energy rubs off on me. In exchange, I help them realize their goals, give them shortcuts, and help them avoid pitfalls they may not see. Perspective is vital: what seems like the end of the world at 15 is meaningless at 80.

My older friends help me accept the future — how to deal with loss, live with physical decline, prepare for death. They show me how to live without regret and to appreciate where I am in life.

The one helps me feel alive; the other teaches me gratitude.

Photo credit: Norbert Hentges on Unsplash