It is easy to say, but extremely difficult to practice—accepting difficult situations with grace, especially in the later years of life. Age may give experience, but it does not make one immune to shock, grief, or heartbreak. In fact, when life strikes unexpectedly in our senior years, the impact often feels even deeper, because we believe we have already endured enough.
I begin this article with a personal loss that shook me only a few days ago. A friend of mine for more than seventy years, now in his eighty-first year, lost his only son—just forty-six years old—in a tragic accident. One can only imagine what must have passed through his mind at that moment. The pain of such news is beyond words. As friends, we were left stunned, unable to comprehend how to react, what to say, or even how to console. Some grief is simply too heavy for language.
This incident immediately reminded me of a similar tragedy that struck the Vedanta Group Chairman, Anil Agarwal. Not long ago, he lost his forty-nine-year-old son in a skiing accident in the United States. Later, he wrote a letter that went viral on social media. It was heartfelt, honest, and painfully human. In it, he wrote: “No words can describe the pain of a parent who must bid goodbye to his child. A son is not meant to leave before his father.” Those lines touch the soul because they echo a universal truth—this is a loss no parent is ever prepared for.
Life is unpredictable. Faith alone gives us the strength to accept what we cannot change. It is often believed that old age prepares us for loss, but this is a myth. Losing parents, though painful, is considered part of life’s natural order. Losing a child never is—at any age. Such a loss shakes one’s faith, balance, and sense of purpose. Yet society often expects seniors to remain strong, composed, and silent, as if age automatically grants emotional immunity.
Modern life gives us many illusions—planning, safety, insurance, wealth, health, success. We believe that careful living can shield us from tragedy. But life offers no such guarantees. It does not ask permission before it strikes. This realisation is disturbing, but it is also liberating. It reminds us of our limitations and teaches humility.
Therefore, we seniors must learn—at least try—to accept every situation with a smile. This does not mean denial, surrender, or suppression of pain. Acceptance is not weakness; it is inner strength. Acceptance allows grief to coexist with dignity. It gives us the courage to face reality without bitterness. When logic fails, faith remains. Belief in the Almighty gives meaning to what otherwise seems meaningless. We may never understand His plan, and perhaps we are not meant to. Faith does not remove pain, but it gives us the strength to carry it.
Death is the only certainty in life; its timing is not in our hands. Remembering this truth should bring humility, not fear. For us seniors, this awareness should bring peace, not anxiety. Life may still surprise us—pleasantly or painfully. Our inner strength is not tested in comfort, but in crisis. Emotional balance, faith, and acceptance are not just coping mechanisms; they are signs of spiritual maturity.
It is perhaps no coincidence that my article last week was titled “Seniors, never let your inner faith weaken.” That article spoke of a soulful prayer from earlier times, with words that touched the heart. Who could have known that within days, a personal tragedy would strike so close, compelling me to reflect once again on faith, acceptance, and inner resilience?
As seniors, we have travelled a long journey. We have seen joys and sorrows, successes and failures. We know now, better than ever, that wealth, power, and influence mean little before destiny. Life may not always be fair, but it is always purposeful. What we cannot change, we must learn to accept with grace. And if we can do so with a gentle smile—not one of denial, but of understanding—we truly honour the wisdom that age is meant to bring.
Author
The author is the founder of the Never Say Retire mission. In order to achieve this goal, he also runs this website and his Facebook group Never Say Retire Forum has Hundreds and Thousands of members today.
