Wane and Dim with Age
As the years advance, life follows its unalterable law of decline. The body slows, the mind tires, and our presence in the world gradually fades like a flickering bulb nearing the end of its filament, or an old vehicle still running, yet clearly past its prime. In the world of work, retirement stands as the final doorway. The system is ruthless in its efficiency — one day you are considered essential, the next you are formally relieved, replaced by younger, energetic talent eager to take the very seat you once guarded with pride. No one will pause for long to mourn your exit. Your contribution, sacrifices, and dedication will soon dissolve in the rear-view mirror of institutional memory. Just as you once replaced someone, you too will be replaced, absorbed into the quiet anonymity of those who once served. Many never prepare for this inevitability. Even those physically and mentally sound are dismissed not by weakness, but by time. Only politicians, insulated by power, may choose to remain until the very end, dying with their boots on. The ordinary citizen—however skilled, loyal, or accomplished—has no such privilege. Then begins the next phase: the slow fading from public relevance. The spotlight shifts elsewhere, and the applause that once affirmed your worth recedes into silence. Invitations stop arriving. Your name no longer adds prestige to an event. You are gently pushed to the margins, not by malice, but by the natural progression of relevance. Society moves forward; you are no longer the centre, only a memory on the edge. At home too, age brings a change in status. The very people you nurtured and sacrificed for may now see you as a burden — not out of cruelty, but fatigue, impatience, or helplessness in the face of your dependence. Physical weakness often deepens emotional isolation. Neither protest nor complaint restores your earlier stature. The wise learn acceptance; the blessed are those who live long enough to witness this stage, for many never reach it. Finally, death arrives — the last equaliser. Whatever name, fame, wealth, or position one carried is silenced in an instant. On the day of departure, tears flow, rituals are observed, words of tribute are spoken, and the life story is ceremonially sealed. But soon — sometimes sooner than imagined — the world returns to its routines. The legacy fades. Even loved ones adjust, because life insists on continuity. Some may be remembered in the form of a road, a building, or a monument. Yet even these markers become mere signposts; few pause to recall the person behind the name. So, let us prepare to walk through the journey of life Nelson lopes Chinchinim Nelson Lopes Chinchinim https://lopesnelsonnat.wordpress.com
