I used to be disappointed when encountering elderly people that were petty and shortsighted and self involved. Eventually I realized that simply getting through

I used to be disappointed when encountering elderly people that were petty and shortsighted and self involved. Eventually I realized that simply getting through the bulk of your life is not necessarily associated with learning and growth. Then, I saw that reaching old age without wisdom and equanimity produces a suffering and ugly person whose last years will do nothing but spread misery all around. It’s an under appreciated reason to always try to better oneself: to avoid the carnage that will result in old age, should one fail to do so.