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Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Innocence

Innocence
Writers' Post #25

The days of innocence are not carefree. I,of course, mean that just because one has not experienced something doesn't mean one doesn't worry about what if, when, where or how that something might occur.

Before the first date, for example, one would be completely innocent.  One would not be carefree, however. This is a time when a person imagines all sorts of outcomes and all manner of horrid things that could go wrong as well as all kinds of wonderful things that might happen.  It's the innocence that makes the unknown kind of exciting and at the same time frightful. Once the first date is history, there is a certain loss of innocence.

The first job interview is another fine example of how innocence is a double edged sword.  The inexperience is obvious to the interviewer and that can be refreshing.  It can also be off-putting.  If the job requires some amount of professionalism and it is clear during the interview process this is going to be the first job, it might well be an uphill climb for the innocent.  On the other hand, if a fresh outlook is helpful and on-the-job training is offered, the innocent may breeze through thoroughly in the favor of the questioner.  Once the interview is over, the innocent is somewhat seasoned and will not enter the next interview quite so wide-eyed.

So many of life's adventures can only be done innocently one time.  After the initial experience, it's different.  Usually better with some history, but different either way.  I think this is true with almost everything, well, except death.  That we do only once, usually.  Though there are many who have 'died' and been resuscitated, making death a multiple experience for them.  I imagine the fear of all things death related dissipates after that. It is the one thing in our lives about which we all have our own private and innocent thoughts.

For me, personally, there aren't many things I can think of that I could innocently undertake. I have done most of the things I want to do with the years I have left here.  Oh, I have many things I want to do again, but there's not much that would be a new experience in my future, I don't believe.  The only place where I really possess innocence is aging.  I am doing that daily and never having been this old before, it's unknown territory for me.  I innocently lunge forward through my golden years wide eyed and excited to see what's next.

Innocence is mostly for the young and I sure had my time of innocently jumping into things to qualify me for adulthood.  I imagine some of those things could be considered stupid and most assuredly ill-advised, but how would I have known that, exactly without trying.   Once I reached the age of adulthood, according to the law and most of the population, around 21, I had already married and given birth to two babies. I had a lot of innocence left in me at that point, but I also had a good deal of experience.  My twenties were learning years, to say the least.  I had jumped head long into adulthood and then innocently started experiencing life in the real world.

Innocence=lack of living.  Nothing mysterious about it.  As you live, you lose innocence.  As you lose innocence, you gain confidence and history gives you wisdom.  The circle of life.

Jo


7 comments:

  1. Great job, Jo and so true but, we can look ahead into our future with excitement and anticipation because we are blessed to live in an era when 62 isn't so old anymore. I think of the time I wasted as a teen thinking that I 'couldn't' do something and I find that as I grow older my capacity for learnig has enlarged and my confidence that I can is a blessing and also makes me have a sense of pride thatmost people our age are way more ambitious than pwople half our age. have times changed or has it always been that way? Velda

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  2. I find that growing older is not such a tramatic age. I have reached the age of my own grandmother, and yet feel as old as my own daughter. How about that! When I was of college age, I felt it would be a complete waste of time. I walked out. Then at the age of 65, college intregued me and I enrolled and walked out this time with degree and honors. Go figure that one out? I grew more at my age, knowledge wise, then I did when I was young, but the era allowed me while the era of my growing up stiffled me. Can you figure that one out?

    Since you are I are of a mature adult age, notice I never said old age. I am not old as long as I continue to learn and not think of the years behind. I only think of ahead and all that I still have undone.

    Sondra

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  3. Velda...I've said it many times, the best is yet to come. I do think we had much more ambition when we were younger than those in their 20's have now. I know that I have way more confidence now than ever before. I'm really loving life right now. As always, thanks for sharing your thoughts.

    Sondra...I will be turning 62 in a few short weeks and I am just fine with that. I have never really had a better life than I have now since retirement last December. I have very little undone in my life, but that doesn't mean I'm finished! It just means I have time to enjoy what I've worked my entire life to earn.
    Thanks for stopping by and commenting.

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  4. Well done Jo--

    I think there is something simpler--and perhaps nostalgic about innocence--once lost it is never to be regained--sort of a rites of passage thing. And yet--I can think back to that time of innocence--when I didn't understand all this world had to offer--and think of how carefree life was. Ahh--but then we grow up--and lose some of that which kept us naive and we learn the hard way that once it is lost--there is no going back :) Cheers, Jenn.

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  5. This is a wonderfully exhaustive look at innocence! Absolutely brilliant!

    Kathy
    HTTP:gigglingtruckerswife.com

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  6. Yes, we definitely lose innocence with age... but it's kind of sad too.

    Joyce
    http://joycelansky.blogspot.com/2011/12/writers-post-innocence-middle-school.html

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  7. Jenn...Personally, I don't mind trading in my innocence for some wisdom. There is no going back, except in our memories.

    Kathy...Thank you darlin'...being brilliant is always a good thing! ♥

    Joyce...It is kind of sad, but as I told Jenn, we gain wisdom with experience, so it's a fair trade, I think.

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