depth perception

As in depth of perception, one of the gifts we youngsters get from being with oldsters, especially with elders.  They've been around the block more than a few dozen times, can often put even the direst situation in a more leavened light.

Got to thinking about that yesterday, waiting in the main foyer of a grannie client's senior residence.  It was more or less impossible to avoid watching a television monitor - there are no less than four oversized ones within about 40' of each other!  Thought I'd positioned myself to avoid eye contact, only to discover one was reflected in the large mirror across from where I waited for my g.c.'s arrival.  

It was, as usual, on Fox News.  Five commentators were sharing their views on some topic.  No idea what, since the sound was turned down - picture only.  It dawned on me that Neil Cavuto, at 56, was the oldest one of the people gathered around the table.  Fifty-six might seem ancient to the others there, but it still seems pretty young to me for any depth of perception on current events.

The most trusted commentator of all time was Walter Cronkite, who was known & honored for his deep background of experience & the value of his insights.  A problem we face with so many young people - most under 50 - being today's talking heads on most of the news networks is they just don't have enough life experience, they lack even a semblance of the gravitas which we need in these challenging days.

It is my great honor to be part of a current events discussion with a group of older friends, several of whom fought in World War II.  We often disagree, but they have the ability, learned from many decades of LIFE, to step back & consider.  Most have the hard-won gift of discussion, of weighing, of realizing that their opinion might not be the only one worth considering.   While so many of us youngsters see them as having their journeys nearing an end, many of them realize in ways we can't imagine that new journeys have just begun.  I look around the room at the Thursday afternoon discussion & see so many faces beautifully etched with years of living every sort of joy & sadness.  I look around & feel sorry to be the only "kid" in the group.  

Just as I bring an interesting perspective to that discussion, older commentators would bring great gifts to the youngsters at CNN, FOX, MSNBC.  When we only look to the young & middle aged as our thought leaders, we put ourselves in the precarious position of being more reactive than responsive, more short sighted than having a long view.

Greater depth perception - that's what our network news channels need to add to their mix of talking heads.  One with more than a few grey hairs, a face lined with experience & a mind more inclined to wisdom than witticisms.