Trick the Angry Old Man

As decades compound, nearly everyone is justified in being bitter, callous, jaded to all
We’ve seen much
Even with plenty of good, the bad still haunts, it gnaws, it nags
Hardship, horror, pain, abuse, injury, injustice, defeat
Loss at the hands of the evil and ignorant 
Witness to events that defy understanding
Loved ones taken too soon while the unsavory remain
Relationships lost through simple evaporation…or harshly ripped apart
We may even hold malice to our past selves, past deeds, regrets
Scar tissue is permanent and cumulative
“Angry old man” is a trope because it’s true, and ever-justified throughout the ages

The trick, dear reader, is simply to not give in
The trick is to seek joy and bring it to others, especially those most in need
The trick is to focus on the good, even little bits the bad brought
The trick is to nip brooding in its dark bud, seek instead beautiful colors in life
The trick is to learn lifelong
The trick is to remain kind
The trick is to stay optimistic when your years tell you the long odds
The trick is to make music, make art, make love past the scars
The trick is to laugh when your soul sends you tears and rage
The trick may even be forgiving yourself and owning hard lessons

The hits will keep coming, the trick is to roll them away
When those hits stop, it means you’re dead

This does not mean go soft or grow weak
Evil exists, always has, always will
Innocence needs defending
Keep sharp your tools and skills
But know that common strength may come easier 
than the uncommon courage to be kind when your gut says lash out
Holding your tongue or staying your hand
may take more strength than lifting the heaviest weight
Keep strong your back but make soft your heart
When conflict comes, use your wisdom to judge true evil from simmering pain
Pray someone extends you the same in a future weak moment

Those souls are out there
Upon whom life stacked too much 
They may squeak out a rare kind word or act 
That effort is Herculean
Respect it, foster it, no matter how scarce
Their world is seen through eyes jaundiced by pain

Give thanks that’s not you
Don’t let it become you
Angry Old Man is the easy way out
The universe wants you callous with age
Push back, push back hard
Instead be strong, be better, get up when you fall
Teach others your lessons
Save some kindness for those old eyes in the mirror
Turn in to life, don’t turn away
Give grace, give love, give a hand when you’re able

Young eyes are watching
Show them the trick

_________________________

This first appeared in The Havok Journal on November 30, 2023.

David is a father, husband, son, boss, writer, beekeeper, outdoorsman, occasional teacher, compulsive elk hunter, Afghanistan veteran, and living proof that anyone is trainable. He is a 1994 South Dakota School of Mines graduate. David spent 12 years in the Army and Army Reserve as an Engineer Officer before that career was cut short with Afghanistan injuries. He spent decades as a consulting civil engineer working in communities all around the American West and now oversees his firm’s engineering department. David continues to amaze both friend and foe being an engineer who can write a story.

As the Voice of the Veteran Community, The Havok Journal seeks to publish a variety of perspectives on a number of sensitive subjects. Unless specifically noted otherwise, nothing we publish is an official point of view of The Havok Journal or any part of the U.S. government.