I was sitting with my pa and his friends, most in their 60s. Heard how they recalled their good old times handling suppliers and purchasers. They were mostly wholesale traders. Reminiscing the good old times really lighted up their faces. I had a lot of flashback too because I was working for my Pa 14 years ago for 2 years as a sales executive while pursuing my studies at a college.

Whenever I got into difficulties trying to convince the buyers to buy our products, my Pa would just need to give them a call, sell the product over the phone to them … and that’s it. I would happily go back to the office with a long list of purchase order from the retailers. It showed the power of communication and how good rapport my Pa had with the buyers.

Today, all I can hear him tell his friends is, “Nowadays, the buyers would not talk to old man like me. It’s not that they do not respect me, but because of the age gap. They just cannot find the right topic to talk to me. Instead, the sales executives do a better job at this. Even on festive seasons, the sales executives get sms greetings from the buyers.” It’s not that he was disappointed he couldn’t get that kind of attention, but it’s the thing with age. They are beginning to feel old … not that they are restless but I believe it kinda hurt them when they thought about the good times many many years ago.

I felt a sudden stab in the heart listening to their conversation, especially with what my Pa shared. I sure wish I don’t have to feel the way they do, but BUT … I know it’s impossible.

Why can’t we, the younger generation speak to or treat the older generation like our peers? Is there really a gap? Can we really not chat or talk on the same frequency?

Personally, I have no problems talking to folks my pa’s generation. I felt cozy in their company as they can really “feed” us with a lot of life experiences. I can feel the power of knowledge around them.

I sure hope, when it comes to my time, my friends and family will not find age gap as a barrier to our communication. Appreciate the old for they are the ones who shaped us … without them, where would we be today?

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