The one who plants trees, knowing that he will never sit in their shade, has at least started to understand the meaning of life. ~Rabindranath Tagore
Springtime is always so lovely where I live. I sit in my backyard gazing at the flowers that are blooming and watch the birds fitting from the trees to the bird feeders that I try to keep full for them. I have had a great life by any standards. I had meaningful and enjoyable work as a mathematics teacher and now I am enjoying the fruit of my labors with wonderful trips around the world. Nonetheless I truly believe that my real destiny is to leave some kind of legacy for the young people of the world.
It is not enough for me to just enjoy my own good fortune. I want to be certain that I continue to plant proverbial trees that will bring shade and bounty to the next generations. That means that I must continue to share my talents and my riches (as humble as they are) with the people who will still be here when I have left this earth forevermore.
I don’t know how much longer I will be on this earth, none of us know when our final hours will come. My grandfather lived to one hundred eight and I seem to be as robust and healthy as he always was but most of my ancestors died in their eighties and early nineties. By that estimation I am enjoying my last hurrahs. In that time I plan to work for the good of the young. I want them to have the kind of world that will make them feel safe and happy. I don’t want to leave them in a state of chaos or worry about how they will survive.
I am still teaching although not as many hours each day as I once did. I am doing my best to help young people navigate through the complexities of mathematics. I want them to see how beautifully math explains the world. I want them to feel comfortable with numbers and patterns and the beauty of how things come together.
I have to admit to getting a great deal of joy in being with young people who are not yet tainted by hate or cynicism. I admire their faith in each other and their trust that things will work out for them just as they mostly have for people in my generation, especially here in the United States. Nonetheless there is so much to be done if we are to leave the world in a better place than it now is That takes a willingness on our part to share our own good fortune with those who struggle. I know that I must not look away or ignore the problems that persist all over the world.
I understand that I can’t fix everything that is wrong but I also adhere to a belief that a dear friend who is now gone taught me. He commented many times that we humans would be able to accomplish so much good in the world if we were willing to give just a bit more each time we saw a need. He likened his thinking to passing a basket at church where even a dollar coming from every person would swell the coffers. Generosity on a regular basis need not bankrupt us. It can be achieved even when we offer our time.
As we age we sometimes begin to worry about how we will meet the costs of the future. We hoard our money and take care not to fritter it away but we always seem to find what we can splurge to take that extra cruise or spend hundreds to see someone perform for one night. There’s nothing wrong with managing our funds so that we do not become a burden on anyone but surely we need to balance our caution with a willingness to invest in situations that can use our help in time, talents or treasures.
We all have so much to give to young people trying to make a start in the world. Sometimes they have to pass up opportunities because they do not have the funds to participate. We should watch for such situations and make certain to contribute to their causes even if we are only able to provide a small part for the need.
I heard about programs in Africa that were stripped of their funding by Donald Trump’s destruction of many government programs. I was happy to hear that people from all over the world have made small donations to keep the most beneficial supports continuing. It’s nice to hear that people are coming to the rescue when other sources of funding are taken away.
My grandfather loved to tell stories from his youth. The common thread in all of them spoke to the generosity of ordinary people who were willing to share small amounts of their own good fortune with those who were in dire straits. People working together are always more powerful than billionaires and always have been. So I plan to be constantly on the lookout for situations that might use my talents or some of my small treasure. If I just started a fund with what I spend each time I purchase a cup of tea when I am out and about I will be able to make a difference in someone’s life.
It’s time for all of us Boomer to begin planting those trees if we have not done so already. We may not be here long enough to sit in the shade but we can imagine how wonderful it will be for the young people who are yet to come. That is a truly wonderful thing to imagine.
All It Takes Is A Little Love 