Growing Older by Understanding and Respecting the Passage of Time

- ("Àsìkò ni ọba àgbà")

As we grow older, something changes inside us. We begin to value peace more than noise and understanding more than being right. Life humbles us in ways we never expected. It teaches us that not everything deserves our energy, our time, or our reaction.

In our younger years, we often chase after things that do not truly matter - attention, approval, arguments, or even the wrong people. But with time, we realize how much nonsense we gave importance to. We wasted time worrying about things that had no real value. Slowly, we start letting go.

We stop forcing friendships. We stop trying to fit into spaces where we clearly do not belong. We stop explaining ourselves to those who are committed to misunderstanding us. Instead, we begin to grow quietly, calmly, and wisely.

The older we get, the more we appreciate quiet mornings, simple routines, and genuine connections. We learn that silence can be healing, and distance can be protection. Not everything needs a reaction. Not every battle needs to be fought.

Growth teaches us acceptance. We start accepting people for who they are and situations for what they are. We don’t waste energy trying to change others. We focus on ourselves, our peace, and our journey.

And in this stillness, we begin to feel more alive than ever. The noise fades, the stress lessens, and the path becomes clearer. Life becomes less about proving a point, and more about living with purpose.

So, the older you get, the more quiet you become not because you have less to say, but because you finally understand what’s truly worth your words, your time, and your heart.

Àgbàlagbà ni ẹ̀mí orí é ni.

Written by 

Àyàn Àgalu.

* NOTE: The above adage is among the "Sayings or Proverbs of Our elders" in the culture and heritage of the Yoruba, in Western (and South Western) Nigeria. The Yoruba proverb is translated into English language by the writer.

* This is the exact story as the one with the Yoruba title https://yinkadixon.blogspot.com/2025/07/asiko-ni-oba-agba-growing-older-by.html