MOST people do not pay much attention to what old folks say, especially when they are complaining, which is accepted as synonymous with being old.

It is true that it is mostly whining about lost opportunities and stuff, but there are warnings in there about things that will impact your life, eventually.

It is ironic that the very people who the young fail to listen to in preparation for their future are those who have passed the same way.

But then, every generation is convinced that the previous one had screwed up its chances, and that the current generation will be the one to change the world.

Well, your future self will have news for you – your descendants feel exactly the same.

We are such arrogant beings. Ignorant and clueless most of the time, but nevertheless, charging headlong in our short time on this Earth – optimistic, hopeful and even bordering on being fatalistic, bolstered by testosterone, estrogen, love, envy and/or religion.

Even if we are able to travel from the future to warn our younger selves of our missteps and mistakes, we would still pooh-pooh the inference of us not being able to make the right choices in our own affairs, in our own time.

The truth is, we are seldom able to separate the influence of our heart and our head on our decisions. Which is why we complain and whine so much when we get old.

It is the benefit, or curse, of hindsight.

* Melleefluous reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.