Naturally, as time is passing we are growing. But when we are constantly learning we are even growing at a faster rate. At a rate which it feels it is almost impossible to recognize changes occurring in ourselves. You only notice some of these changes when you reflect on your present behavior and how it is different from a recent similar behavior.

During my late 20s, I kept telling myself that I need to keep on an open mind with youngsters and have high compassion because I was in their shoes once and I had always wanted to be heard or understood. For a relatively long period of time, I was able to give the impulsive youngsters a reason for their idiotic behaviors. Also, when I recognize a set of ideas that I used to adopt but now I deem to be the least unhelpful, I keep telling myself that these young people are on a learning journey and they will abandon such ideas one day. I tell myself that I need to see things from their respective, not mine.

I go further than that. I tell myself that when I am 50 years old and my daughter is a teenager I would be seeing things from her perspective. It is the only way I could be close to her and understand her. I tell myself that any misbehavior of youngsters should be seen from their point of view, not the grown up’s. This way we are building bridges between generations and allowing them to grow faster.

I go further than that. I tell myself that when I am 50 years old and my daughter is a teenager I would be seeing things from her perspective. It is the only way I could be close to her and understand her. I tell myself that any misbehavior of youngsters should be seen from their point of view, not the grown up’s. This way we are building bridges between generations and allowing them to grow faster.

While I try to remind myself of the importance of giving reasons for youngsters for their odd behavior and trying to understand their idiotic decisions, I seem to slowly but surely forget the occasions when I was once in their shoes. Having some of the memories fading away is starting to contribute to me being less compassionate toward youngsters even though I want to be there for them.

In a way, as the memories are weighing less and less every day, which is in our nature, my behavior is being affected in a way that contradicts my current goals and principles. It seems that the fading memories are shaping my decisions and behavior.

This extends beyond trying to be supportive of youngsters. As someone who grew up witnessing the aftermath of a devastating war (the Syrian crisis), I keep constantly telling myself about the consequences of wars. But now as my life is departing further and further from the immediate war circle I sometimes, unconsciously, justify to myself decisions I just used to think these thoughts were to be selfish.

These are just examples of what I’m remembering that I’m forgetting. I’m very sure that there are tons of other fading memories that are shaping my behavior today in a way I once thought not to be appropirate.