Navigating The Phrase "Out of Place" and it Nexus to Aging.

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Greetings and welcome to my blog distinguished readers. @cruzamilcar63 has brought us together via the contest The Awkward ''Out of Place". I will be granting justice to this emotional and sensational topic under the following headings;

The phrase "out of place" is a deep phrase which signifies elements of not belonging or being rejected. This could be in varying sense such as intellectual, spiritual, social or physical. It is in most cases used to show some level of disconnection between the host which is the individual and his/her environment. This inturns creates a sense of alienation, discrimination or discomfort.

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The feeling of being out place could manifest itself on different scenarios. One could feel out of space if he or she moves into a foreign country, new school or class etc. these feelings may likely be as a result of cultural and societal differences and values. There's nothing to panic about as these feelings may hits anyone at any given time and situations.

One of the striking examples I wish to share was when I attended a business interview during my search for a job. The atmosphere was totally calmed while the AC made the room temperature welcoming.

Despite the scenario of the place, I come to realized that there was a proposed stress code (black trouser/skirt, white shirt and red tie) for the interview and that all applicants where to come along with their laptops for excel practical test.

Surprisingly, I was not aware of any of these including the computer of a thing. Because, if I had known, I would have declined owing to the fact that I was not highly grounded on Excel software and neither did I had a system. Well, at this point it was too late for me as we've been ushered into the no leaving room as we await the managing director. Everyone were well dressed except myself who wore my red shirt and black trouser without a laptop.

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While everyone boot their system, I pulled out a book and began to read what I couldn't really comprehend as I felt as though I was out of place. Well, the atmosphere became highly intense that I had to speak to the receptionist as I excused myself with genuine reasons. That ugly experience taught me that being intelligent or competent in a give field was not enough but, being social, paying attention to details and cultural integration were highly essential part of life.

In my opinion, feeling out of place goes beyond mere observation into a deeper realm of discomforts and disassociation. This is always experienced when one is in a place where they do not share certain norms, values, interest, or behave with the place. On many occasions I have had this kind of experience where people around being engaged in some kind of activities that I do not welcome this, making me look like an half cast because, I was out of place.

Another particular instance that stands out boldly was when a friend of mine invited me to a religious gathering where things where done 97% different from where I use to worship. imagine going to a church where instruments and clapping are legal while were I have been worshipping, we don't clap or use instruments. During this, I sat down ignorantly while others were dancing and jumping. This experience pushed me to a realm of confusion and dumbness.

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The liturgy was very new to me and the songs were very strange. Though the members and those around me never bullied me or made attempts of isolating me, the feelings of not dancing when others were dancing, not being able to flow in songs, not knowing what the next item would be were are difficult situations I tried to manage. This made me unable to mix up deeply with others and the environment as such feeling "out of place".

Permit me not to narrate another instance of how I felt when I walked into a room of which everyone greeted each other with high level of acquaintances yet, I knew no one. This happened when I got a new job. It was a moment I found myself "out of place" because, everyone spoke using the industry's slangs and jargon while I continuously stared at their lips without grabbing anything.

Feeling out of place is inevitable has it crosses all spheres of life including on social media where new abbreviation and stories trends and you are yet to be updated. I could still recall how I felt seeing trends such as LOML, WCW, LOL, What God can not do does not exist, God does not exist among others. All of these made me a novice in the space until I was able to catch up with the trends. Also, on the platform called "Steemit", if you are not informed of @pennsif's Steem-atlas project link than you are likely to be "out of place".

Understanding the concept of paradise demands that one must not be "out of place" in regards Christianity. However, for clearance purposes, paradise is always depicted as the most peaceful terrain where laughter, happiness, peace of mind is based. In addition to these, it is a place where there's freedom from suffering, hunger, thirst and other forms of discomforts. All of these pushes forward the question "could the idea of paradise be a human invention created to cover up the perpetual feelings of being out of place?".

In my opinion, I have no doubt that this is near true when considering from the psychological standpoint where individuals sought a situation of zero stress, being valued and understanding. In reality, this is always cut short of this ideal condition. In reality, individuals in today's society are surrounded by situations where they are discriminated due to differences in social class, culture, race, health status or even personal experiences.

Over the years, many different people at different locations have been made strangers in their city, hometown, countries and even in their families. The longing and continued quest for paradise whether it is an imaginary paradise framed by religious group, a longing for a better future or an Utopian society, all of these points to a deep seated desire to navigate and escape this societal ill treatments while craving for a location where we truly belongs.

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Religious groups in the world refers to paradise as a realm of eternal happiness, inclusion, justice, freedom from all forms the struggles that define human life. To the Christians we have Heaven, to the Moslems we have the Jannah and to the Buddhists we have the Nirvana. All of these places connotes the idea of escaping from the pains and torture of alienation. In essence, one could say that the human condition is at its apex, one of great displacement, and that there's a place called paradise which serves as the ultimate correction. A sincere assurance that one day, the problems and feelings of being out of place will be done away.

In today's world where technology has taken over, there is a stereotype that the more an individual age, the more they become irrelevant in the world. This is always backed up with the idea that the younger generations grow up with emerging trends, digital skills, fashion, and those who do not keep up with the flow are always kicked out and considered old fashioned, old schooled and out dated.

These in most cases makes the aged people feel out of place in the same world they once were legends and standards to imitate. But, think about this, should ageing kick one out of the system and automatically make one irrelevance?

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I feel highly emotional at this point because, I believe that the truth is highly complex. I have no doubt that technology is proudly driven by the younger generations and it has taken over almost every spheres of life including; communication, work, entertainment, movement to mention but a few. At the same time, it is not wise to conclude that aging equates to loosing value.

Society in a general sense has always been driven by change and all generations finds serious problems in adapting so as to avoid the feelings of "out of place" because when individuals especially, the aged do not get themselves involved, they gradually become excluded from conservations that in time past where highly familiar to them. This makes them looks irrelevant.

However, relevancy is not solely or tied down to technology. As such it is unwise to use only technology to justify the relevance of an individual in a world where experiences, wisdom, logical and critical thinking is needed. All of these virtues listed are highly common among the aged thus, showing their relevance.

In a nutshell, from my research I can boldly attest that most of the greatest achievements of life are powered by people of the later years. As such, the key to remain relevant and in place is not the function of technology but continuous learning, adaptation and creating/finding new ways to share and obtain knowledge.

Ultimately, permit me to admit that relevancy is a choice. Those who holds on to a lifelong learning, adaptability and curiosity will continue to have relevance and influence irrespective of their age. The only danger and what would make one feel out of place is the resistance to change especially in the positive directions.

To call it wrap, let me quickly mention that feeling out of place is not always a negative thing especially when it involves negative vices. Based on this, we need to ensure that we embrace and adapt to positivity while striving to remain in place. I invite @bahrol, @alexanderpeace, @impersonal, and @basil20 to share in their views.