When you are too old to fight back

A wise man once said: "When you are too old to fight back (probably against people who are bigger and nastier than you), then it's time to reconsider your priorities in life."

I would like to think that it's wise to wise up and not resort to physical measures to resolve issues. Some individuals who have misguided principles seem to think that seniority gives you the privilege to say anything you want and get away with it.

Believe me, it's not true. I am now heading towards the stadium where the finishing line is. I am not exactly in the stadium yet but if you catch me drift, I am about five kilometres from the last lap.

Chinese martial arts masters subscribed to this philosophy. Old age does not make you stronger and faster than a 20-year-old upstart but it should give you an advantage in being wiser, being more practical, higher tolerance and a propensity for not taking life too seriously.

In other words, mate, be a buddy and not punch your puny fist against the concrete wall. I have friends who do not hesitate to express their anger by hammering their knuckles against a solid wall to express their frustration.

Now, I ask you. Does the wall feel any pain? Does the concrete structure cry out for help? No sirree! It's you who are feeling the pain. It's your skin that tears and bleeds.

So when you are too old to fight back, simply understand that confrontation is not the way to go. You can either understand the situation and live with it, or you can simply walk away and let the other person think you are a chicken.

Better that person has a misinformed impression of you than you challenging him to a fight and if you are lucky beyond expression, you could actually knock him over. But what does that prove?

Simply, that he will lay in ambush for you one dark night and exact a revenge when you least expect it. If you are unlucky, he could be carrying a baseball bat.

With age must come wisdom, otherwise you have wasted some precious years of your life. What have you been doing while you were enjoying life as a mature adult?

It's only the young and brash who desire to resolve intangible issues with some hard knocks. The older generation just sigh, walk away and reconsider their aims in life. They know there are better things to do in life, other than to hit your head against the wall, and be unconscious for many long minutes.

The buzzword for longevity and some good years of harmony is patience. The Chinese have a healthy respect for seniority. They say the elders have consumed more salt than others who have consumed rice.

That's true on several levels. The young have a tendency to think with their bodies and fists. The older ones have no choice but to use their minds and other intangible assets like patiences, composure and kindness.

When you think about this, it sort of dawns on you: Why didn't I do that sooner?

Gustav cam a-knocking, Hana visits a-calling, then Ike just barges in

They say if three "bags of wind" come a-calling at your doorsteps one after another, then, you best sit up and take notice or just leave town.

In the current case, Ike has not left the living room yet and he's creating a ruckus. Gustav broke some bits of your furniture.

What Gustav didn't do, Hana made a flying visit. You were lucky that time. I heard there are other guests with other colourful names lining up to jump onto the so-called Friendship wagon.

And don't the people living in the coastal areas know all about it. Nature like everything else on earth has limits to its patience. I guess before anybody says that is just a lot of hot air, you better spare a thought for that "hot air".

That's what causing all the problems. Tornadoes, hurricanes, tsunamis, you ain't seen nothing yet. It's no laughing matter.

Residents who have to head for the hills in a hurry are no longer laughing. The politicians have having a headache. Now, they really have to work to earn their keep.

Earthquakes are so common these days, they are taken almost for granted except by those who are left under a big pile of debris.

Scientists of late have been holding emergency meetings to discuss matters that are beyond their control. Nevertheless it is nice of them to tell us that doomsday is just around the corner if we are not careful.

So much for science and the latest breakthroughs. Nothing like a wild gust of wind to bring everything down like a stack of cards.

The rallying cry is: It is still not too late! For many, the gameplan doesn't look that bright. Man vs Nature?! You got to be kidding. Whoever wants to fight a 9.5 richter scale quake?

There's hope yet even in the darkest clouds but the price is high. I guess Mother Earth doesn't mind losing a few hundred million of its inhabitants because there are some things better shown than talked about.

Mankind has run out of options. For too long, every builder on earth thinks he can have his way and get away with it. Time is no longer on our side.
It's a shame but nevertheless true. There won't be any last minute change in Mother Nature's plan. I think it is going to get much worse before it gets much better.

The air is polluted, the ice is melting, and the ground shaking. No dire signs? You have got to be joking. Time to make friends with Mother Earth. I think she has just lost her sense of humour.