a decade might as well be a universe

just imagine what a decade's worth of difference is

when you're in the year 2000, a decade difference is
people are just starting to come up with the cellphone.
when you're in the 90s, a decade difference is
people are still wearing oversized tshirts and hairstyles.
when you're in the 80s, a decade difference is
people embrace hippies and bellbottoms

see my point? so imagine the shock i experienced
spending a few hours having a meal with 20 year olds.
it certainly opened my eyes about my own difference

see, i have a penchant for dismissing kids.
anyone who is younger or far younger than i am,
i tend to dismiss as snot-nosed kids

to me, they don't respect us as their seniors,
they don't understand the true meaning of life,
and their problems are all immature and childish

but you know what? i could be totally wrong

i certainly can't expect them to always react maturely,
because maturity takes years to develop,
i certainly can't expect them to have 'real' problems,
because their lives are relatively carefree at this point.
and i certainly can't expect them to bear life's burden,
because it is not their time to bear it yet.

for years i thought i was open-minded,
but i forgot the point about being able to
respect kids and their issues as real issues for THEM.
so instead of dismissing their opinions and point of view,
perhaps i can lend them some insight to what may be,
as well as help expand my perspective on life as well

and that is why i am thankful for being my age,
it's a nice bridge between the exuberance of youth,
and the wisdom of maturity to come

so there you go. a decade of difference
might as well be a universe of difference

unless of course, you decide to do something about it.
and before you decide to shrug this aside as nonsense,
i'm sure the mature side you will appreciate
you finding further ways to improve yourself as a person