We are many a time in a dilemma if we can live life our way. This happens at different stages of our lives. First as an adolescent at home, you tend to rebel against your parents and they sermonise on what you should and should not do. You hate it to say the least but wonder what to do.

As parents, we cannot accept our adolescent to rebel. This could be as simple as growing long hair or getting up late ,when you have nothing better to do. As parents, we tend to say that, this is not the way we lived. We never rebelled or got up late ,when we were your age. Each of us is different and so is every generation. What is true for us ,may not be true for the next.

I recall my father telling me that he wanted to have a long hair cut like mine ,when I was young. It was his way of conveying to me ,that I was different. He did it in a cool way and never hurt my sentiments. But sometimes, we find it difficult to accept the world view of the next generation ,when it is radically opposite to our view.

If we move on to the work place, life is no different. Our generation was keen on punctuality and timeliness ,in everything we do. Today, it is not time but the quality of output, which matters to the current generation. When asked – “Why do you not come on time ? “, they may respond that it is not the time but my output, which needs to be measured.

Both the generations ,may be right in their own way. Our ability to accept the norms of the next generation as it is ,rather than the way we want it to be ,is the challenge before us. The earlier we accept this reality of life, the better it could be for us.

Our ability to adapt to changing beliefs ,may be the key to live harmoniously ,in a changing world of generations. It is true that our parents were different from us and we are different from our children. However, it is not true that our parents were wrong or we were, nor our children. It is our ability to live our way and let others live their way.

I would prefer to live life my way and let the next generation live it their way. This may be easier said than done. This becomes all the more difficult, when it challenges your basic beliefs in life. We sometimes tend to believe ,that a certain belief in life ,is absolute. It may be worthwhile to ponder ,if we need to challenge this belief. For eg. being in office on time ,every time was the belief of a disciplined employee in the past. Today work from home and flexible working is the norm and we need to accept this reality. The output may not be impacted by this change in belief.

Life would be happier if we learn to live it our way and let others live their way. As long as we do not hinder each other in our goals and beliefs, it should be ok. How does it matter if my day starts at 6 am and my children,s day starts at noon. We may get up at 6 am and sleep at 10 pm. Our kids may get up at 10 am and sleep at 2 am. So the time relatively is the same, it is only for us to realise that our time zones are different.

Our ability to adapt and accept this reality may be the key to happiness in life.

S Ramesh Shankar

29th July 2023