I got caught up in another DeWayne video. This one on his Dry Creek Wrangler School channel.
This was on the stages of life. More specific, when us guys get long in the tooth.
He starts off talking about his old horse that he brought down there – Boone.
Boone has been his main horse forever. But now, he’s old and has the arthritis. So he brought him down to his son’s to live his life out in the pasture. “You earned the rest, old man”. But that doesn’t mean a life of no value. Boone’s job now is to enjoy his time in the pasture, and to teach young kids about horses. You see, he’s old and experienced and is gentle as a lamb around chulrins.
He still has purpose, but has the life the old man (horse) earned.
He then weaves a comparison of us older men and Boone.
It’s a natural progression to transition to teaching youth the lessons we wished we had known when we were young. Honestly, I try. The millennials I talk with listen, but rarely can put it into practice. Seems that some need to learn themselves the hard way.
He advices as we get older not to withdraw but embrace a new role as a mentor. If we don’t teach what we know, it’ll be lost.
The video really resonated with me. I feel I’m at a crossroads here. I have a great job that I absolutely have no energy for. I’m good at it. But I get the sense my path is leading me elsewhere, physically and mentally.
Like Dewayne, there are things that I’m done with. Climbing tall ladders, working on roofs. I’ve known more than one old-timer that was up on a ladder, fell off, and cracked his casaba. They all, for the most part, never woke up again.
But there are things that I still do that an older gentleman should probably take a pass. Like riding a monster on two wheels. I’m good at that though. Tough on the joints though. I have a metric ton of man skills. I’ll see how I can pass them on.
When I was running yesterday, I had a younger dude holler at me from his porch; “Hey! way to go, you’re looking great! I see you every day working it! You’re an inspiration!” Third time that’s happened to me in this neighborhood.
Just because you’re rusty doesn’t mean you can’t shine. Show off that old man patina.
Embrace the change. The world needs old man Boones, you and me.
Inspected By Pat 