Old head, young body

At the young age of twenty-one, I have begun to realise how much I enjoy the company of the older generations in this world, especially considering that I could be classed as a somewhat frivolous and and naive young woman. Interested in reality television, shopping, gossiping, partying and often guilty of listening to trashy modern-day pop music, I most certainly don't sound, on paper, like I would have anything worth saying to anyone over the age of 25. Somehow, though, that doesn't seem to be the case.

My mam and nan had a discussion yesterday in which they commented on what an "old head" I have on my shoulders...something my mother believes I get from her. And the more I think about it, the more I'm inclined to agree.

I only have a handful of friends who are actually my own age - my best friends Addy and Ray, and The Women Folk. The rest of the people I find myself socialising with on a regular basis are often old enough to have raised me as their own!

Last night (4/12/10), like many I have had since I turned the grand age of 18, was spent in my gaff - The Pepper Mill public house in Coleshill - where I spent the evening talking and laughing with all manner of different characters, from all different walks of life - most of which were 40+ and a few could even have been grandparents to me.

The reason I'm presenting you with all this, is because it dawned on me last night just how much I love having older friends, and how much I thoroughly enjoy spending my time in the company of people who have lived a real life and who have something worthwhile to say for themselves.

I meet people around my age and often find I can't quite click with them. Many seem to believe they have done it all already - they think they know everything there is to know, but when you talk to them you find out they know very little worth knowing.

Worse still is the mentality some young ones have when they're out and about, on the town, where their only focus seems to be getting blind drunk, getting it on with whatever is standing closest to them and getting themselves into enough trouble to make the night worth mentioning the next day.

You don't get any of that with the people I spend my Saturday night's with. They are all up for a laugh and can most certainly put the beer away, but most just go out with a different mindset. They are looking for laughs and good times, just without all the hassle and silliness.

Don't get me wrong, I don't believe that all people my own age are like that, but I can say with confidence that many of you will have come across young adults like this on your travels many a time. So I guess my point in all this is that I'm glad not to be one of them.

For me, personally, it's so refreshing to meet someone who I can have a really good, in-depth and interesting conversation with - someone who has life stories that will put my meager offerings to shame and someone who has actually lived their life to the fullest. And I think many of my older friends would second this - it must be so nice for the older generations to meet an interesting, educated and well-spoken twenty-something, as I honestly believe it could restore their faith in the "youth of today".

So I'm starting a little campaign. I'd like all who read this to go and have a proper conversation with someone they know who is years ahead of them (in age and experience), and just listen to what they have to say. Seek their advice, enjoy their company, and you might just find that you in turn will have a bit more to say for yourself. It's just a thought, but one that I think is worthwhile considering.