1. Keeping an open mind
Young people are more open to political, social and religious freedom, as well as passing trends and new ideas. Old people? Not a chance. It's all tradition, tradition, tradition. Which is not *always* a bad thing, but if everyone thought like that, we'd still be stuck in the middle ages.
2. No-one acts like they give a shit because they *genuinely* don't give a shit.
Caring and sharing is a little old-fashioned nowadays, and being so careful about what people think about you and all of that crap is stopping humankind from progressing. People these days seriously *do not* give a shit about anyone other than close friends or family, or the poor. And that's a good thing, I think. I think we mind each other's business too much, and I think it affects us too much. I'm not saying we have to go out of our way to be horrible to each other, but I think we should stop going out of our way to be *nice* to each other, and fussing so much about presenting yourself *properly*.
3. Tradition holds you back.
Although some traditions are important, lots of them are just wastes of time and energy and cause huge social problems. Traditions and religion don't have to disappear entirely, they just have to adapt, as do the people who follow them. Dying for religion was once a heroic thing, but it's just seen as silly now. Don't do it.
4. Stay out of relationships
Old people do not always know best. Face the music - age is not a measurement of wisdom. So what if you got an arranged marriage and it all worked out well? It's probably not going to hold true for your great-grandson, and the more messing you do with his lovelife the more pain and frustration and embarassment you're going to cause - no matter how good your intentions are. So, you're an old folk, stick to old folk business. Let young people do what they do best - being young.
5. 'In my day'...
Stop complaining about all the priveledges that children get these days, and stop trying to make their lives back to the 'hard times'. So what if you had a shit childhood? Don't make ours bad as some kind of sick payback. Humanity is about progressing, not carrying out revenge on the innocent young generations. Let all your tough times be buried in the past and look towards a happy future.
6. 'I'm too old to do this'...
You're never too old to do anything, and you're never old enough to be a useless lump of bones and grey hair and a burden to society. Unless you're strapped onto a hospital bed on life support, get out there and do something productive. Young and old, we all have to pull our weight.
7. Technology.
Don't complain about how technology is making us lazier and more stupid. After all, I'm sure that's what the people said when da Vinci invented all sorts of time-savers, and I'm pretty sure we survived that. I'm pretty sure that's what your parents said when the TV and the radio were invented, but guess what, you survived that too. So we'll survive the iPods. Okay?
8. Be yourself
Be yourself! Relax! Chill! Being prim and proper when you're old and wrinkly isn't going to make you look ladylike, it's gonna make you look grumpy, old, unapproacheable and a bloody pain in the ass. Be friendly, open minded, gracious and fun.
9. That said, don't be too...strange...
There's nothing worse than an embarassing grandma who bounces around all the kids thinking they've got the 411. Old people just have to accept that they're in a different part of society now.
10. Have fun
Life is about living.
