“We never knew what happened on the day we were born. But it was documented. And we believe that someone took care of us, because we are here today.”
Happy New Year everyone! With a new year comes a new birth. We are filled with optimism for what is in store. Perhaps, we can also look back on our own birthdays and rethink our lives and goals.
It was a day we never knew, but it is part of us. On that day, we came into this world, helpless human beings, totally dependent on those around us for continued survival. We made it through those times until we reached independence.
Anyone who has had a chance to take care of someone who is totally dependent knows what kind of responsibility it entails. The caregiver can no longer plan for themself alone. In fact, there is a selfless disregard for one’s own needs and wants in order to fulfill another person’s requirements. Food, sleep, and recreation will all be sacrificed to find joy in helping other human beings reach their potential. The realization of the potential may take years, but it is worth the wait.
We never really knew what was happening during those first few years of our life. I lived in a day and time when taking photos was reserved for special occasions, unlike today. Technology and the internet have enabled some to document daily life events, complete with photo and video coverage, for the future adult to probably appreciate. Nevertheless, the circumstance of helplessness is similar. We had to put our trust in adults during those early days. They could have left us alone, but we were nurtured.
Our birth and death are intertwined events. On the day someone dies, someone is born too. We exist in a continuum, but it has an end, which will signal someone else’s beginning. Throughout time, those who are alive today have been affected in some way by those before them. The baby boomer who took care of a Gen X infant may have passed on experiences that now influence how the Gen Xer takes care of Generation Z. There may have been some changes depending on how one perceives the future. The Gen Xer may have resented the discipline of Baby Boomer parents, who were nurtured by very strict Pre-war parents. Thus, the Gen X adult will make adjustments to make sure the Gen Z child does not have a similar experience.
To say that a new year, or a new birth, will mean new experiences and changes is predictable. But those changes are shaped by the past. And that past may have had a perceived ending, but it actually lives on.
Birthdays mean that because we are here, we have to make the most out of what we are. We must be grateful to those who helped us in the past. And we must make an effort for those who are already nearing the exit, for we will get there too. But while we are here, we lay the foundation for the continuum of care and nurturing.
We trusted those who took care of us when we started. When we reach the end, we hope we have planted the seeds for us to be cared for when we reach the end of our days.