This Baloo cartoon shows an old man with a big smile on his face walking with a cane. In the distance a man is saying to a woman, “Oh, Ferguson’s not over the hill — he never made it out of the valley.” It tickles my funny bone, and it reminds me of articles saying people over 70 tend to be the happiest. I suppose one reason is they no longer have to worry about achievement and what other people think, they can just enjoy life in the present as best they can.
Would you be content if you never made it “out of the valley”? How important are your past accomplishments to you? Do you think people are somehow inferior if they haven’t gained recognition in the eyes of the world?
December 27, 2013
I have had my share of Sisyphean existence and finally gave up trying to get out of valleys many years ago. I am now over 70 and for the past over 11 years, I have lived in a valley and do not seem to be worse off for that.
I think it’s nice and cozy down here — no one bothers us so we can do what we choose.
I’m still climbing the hill –or trying anyway.
Our town is referred to as The Hill. Hill Toppers are the high school teams. My street is Loma del Escolar–Spanish for “hill of the scholar”. I’ve always been in the valley in this town.
My house in W.Va. where I grew up is called “The Hilltop” because it’s on a round hill by itself. (My brother took “The Hillltop” monogramed towels to wrap up his stuff to ship to CA & to be got rid of.) West Virginian-s are Hillbillies. And I’m still climbing hills.
I like challenges, but mostly in areas that other people aren’t interested in. I call it playing with my toys.
Accomplishments, past or present, are nothing to me. More is the pity. To some extent, I think that this, my attitude, constitutes my downfall.
“Valley”? Sure. You have mountains to look up to. And then – should you be inclined to shout – there is Echo.
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Why your downfall?
I’m pretty sure I’ve never made it out of the valley. I’ve rarely been interested in doing so. (Apart from moments of grandiosity – that hopefully I’m getting better at seeing through.)
I’ve gradually come more and more to: doing what you can, where you are.
My past accomplishments don’t interest. Possibly because I don’t have any, or any that other people would see as significant. And what some people see as significant I regard as trivial.
Robert Kiyosaki (he of financial self-interest) wrote about the day he made it. It was riding a horse along a beach at a tourist resort. (In his defense it did include doing it with his wife.) I think this cured me of the need to ‘make it’. It was just so underwhelming.
I’m maybe a little prejudiced against those who get recognition in the eyes of the world. I know lots of muso’s better than many who achieve recognition. Some of what is done to achieve recognition I find awful.
There may be cultural elements in play (Australia is different to the US). This might be summed up by: I don’t want to be a success, I just don’t want to fail.
My interests are a lot different from other people’s too. I’m used to it by now and have fun anyway.
I LOVE THAT!!!
LOL.
i’ve been wandering around that valley all my life.
so i’m not sure it’s entirely an age thing. i love the valley. i’m comfortable there. and apparently i’ve always been about comfort.
but it is sort of fun watching other people climb their mountains. lots of laughter in my life.
Notice in the cartoon the old fellow looks a lot happier than the younger two. 🙂
I’m sorry, but I am not content with my life – except that somehow I’m in it anyway.
With all the changes unfolding, which never seemed to be expected in recent decades, I can see all kinds of things I want to do…and maybe I will go further than what is on the current drawing board
Time will tell AND finally it’s going to “depend” for sure 🙂
Again, good luck in being able to do more of the things you would like to!
I don’t think “recognition” and “accomplishments” matter two hoots. As long as I’m enjoying myself and using whatever meagre talents I possess, that’s good enough for me. Surely people who endlessly seek recognition are insecure about their own identity and desperate for reassurance that they’re worth something? And when you see the sort of “recognition” that’s given to celebs, so often tinged with jealousy and malice, who needs it?