The older we get, the more doors get closed and the more doors get opened. It is healthy and natural for perspectives to change, and old ideas, once seemingly the most important thoughts in a person’s mind, suddenly seem frivolous or out of date. The first time it happens, it is kind of shocking. It is almost like a person matured overnight from their youth to adulthood, and this may come at any stage of life.

For instance, sports are a great starting point. As children and teens, playing sports is sometimes a huge focus in our lives. Those with much talent and aptitude for a sport pursue it, sometimes with intentions of becoming professional someday or with goals to earn scholarships. Others play sports just for fun and it builds character, coordination, and is definitely an acceptable outlet. Suddenly, upon departure from higher education and being thrust into a world where one has to earn a living, sports takes a recreational type of place in most lives. Watching sports on television, attending live sporting events and subscribing to sports magazines may be enough for some, while others still play the occasional pick up game of basketball, or a family game of touch football. But, suddenly sports is not as important any more. This is a healthy evolution of perspectives in life.

A child’s perspective of their parents is another huge example of changing as one ages. At first, parents know everything; they are doctors, teachers, nurturers, and enact the laws around the house, but they are also the ones with money. They buy the food, the toys, the presents, pay for school, sports, lessons and give allowances. To very young children, parents are the highest of the highest. Not so, when they reach mid teens and early twenties.

Now, friction areas erupt; differences of opinions and life goals cause arguments and sometimes hard and tough lessons have to be learned. This is also a healthy evolution for most; another perspective being seen through the eyes of someone growing and changing. When a person reaches mid-life and has aging parents, the perspective changes again; almost 360 degrees!

Aging parents sometimes cause role reversals; they now become the one needing guidance in many ways from their children. The very same son who argued fiercely with his dad in his twenties about everything, may suddenly be the most supportive son a man could ever want when he is aged and needy. The son has changed his perspective on life to a whole new level now; the hard cold facts of immortality start to soften edges of material possessions and trivial desires and evolve into the importance of human emotions taking precedence over all else.

One of the final perspectives of human life is when you finally see others as equals and forgive imperfections. The goal is now happiness through acceptance.