Long Way Home

Age of the Internet

I have noticed

That the elderly move slowly

And the young move quickly

Sometimes I am not sure whether

It is age’s burden

That causes older people to take things at a slow pace

Or if it is age’s burden

That creates such a stir in younger people

That they can’t slow down

They hit the ground running

Slam on the gas pedal

And rush through the paperwork

We are the age of the Internet

We expect things to be fast, efficient

But sometimes speed gets in the way of quality

They are the age of the Pen

They are patient, deliberate

But sometimes carefulness gets in the way of quantity

There are pros and cons to both

We have more

They have better

I saw an old man today

As he carefully placed the paper on the clipboard

Organized just-so

I saw a young man today

As he threw his papers against the clipboard

Not even bothering to clip them in

The young man was out the door

Before the old man was done

Clipping his papers

But what is the outcome?

The young man will wish he had taken the extra moment

When he finds his papers a mess

But why has this changed?

Does it change with the generations?

Or just with an individual’s age?

I believe that the old

Have learned of the secret

We young have not yet known to exist:

Life is precious

Do not waste a single

Moment

With rushing and hurrying

With speeding

And braking fast

And hard

Because sometimes

Hard hurts