Thinking Ahead

Taken out of context this bit of wisdom seems unwise: "Take no thought for tomorrow for tomorrow will take care of itself." Amazing how we can bend things to suit ourselves. It is true that tomorrow will take care of itself but this is not a license to not think ahead. Other passages decry short-sightedness. How many senior moments occur when we fail to think ahead no one really knows.

To illustrate, who would have guessed a couple of years ago that gasoline would be costing us four to five dollars a gallon. Did we think that turning edible crops into a substitute for gasoline would affect us at the supermarket? Is it easy to understand why the US auto industry kept on building gas-guzzlers encouraging foreigners to import leaner vehicles? Thinking ahead, way ahead, is tough but it must be done.

Here’s a clip where a failure to cogitate adequately can affect many of us (besides, many seniors do use cell phones).

. . .Five states don’t allow you to drive while you talk on the cell phone (California, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Washington D.C). And it makes sense, as a recent study by Harvard University found that 1 in 20 car accidents are caused by cell phones- resulting in 2,600 deaths and 330,000 injuries, annually. 48 countries and half of the United States have adopted some sort of legislation restricting the use of mobile devices while driving. Because let’s be honest- people are so consumed with these devices that they use them while they drive- and it is a danger to themselves, their passengers and other drivers. From this though we’re finding that sales of headsets are rising sharply. Data from ABI Research expects that in 2008, out of the roughly 1.2 billion phones sold, more than half will have Bluetooth capabilities.

Good. We’re thinking ahead. Or are we just dreaming? However, mobile devices are not the whole problem. It is not only the misuse of these devices, the distraction caused by conversations (personal and business) is even more of a dilemma in causing accidents. With competition tough and commutes long, every minute counts argue cell phone users.

Thinking ahead, from seconds to possibly even a century or more, is sometimes essential. In thinking aloud, did the transportation industry (from airlines to trucking) really think about securing their future with fuel? Do gun lobbyists think deeply enough about the misuse of firearms while advocating a wholesale availability of guns (from revolvers to "automatic weapons of destruction"). Do environmentalists probe deeply enough into potential complications of their crusades? And what about the real estate boom gone bust (from opportunists to victims)? And we could go on and on . . .

Then there are seniors (and more than just seniors) who failed to plan ahead for retirement. We hear all kinds of laments from those approaching retirement wondering if they can live off social security or if there will be such a thing when they retire. How many totally depended on employee pensions which should have been supplemented by savings accounts, 403k and 401b plans, IRAs, home equities and other recognized plans?

One more thing. It is frightening how many seniors (including not a few boomers) who do not have either a will or a trust or have not specified beneficiaries or trustees. Even parents, and grandparents (or other seniors) who have custody of little ones haven’t designated viable guardians.

Yes, it is one thing to fret about tomorrow yet quite another to not think ahead.