A friend sent me this story, yesterday, that goes with the above quote. HER NAME IS ROSE The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being. She said, 'Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?' I laughed and enthusiastically responded, 'Of course you may!' and she gave me a giant squeeze. 'Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?' I asked. She jokingly replied, 'I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, and have a couple of kids...' 'No seriously,' I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age. 'I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!' she told me. After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake. We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this 'time machine' as she shared her wisdom and experience with me.. Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up. At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor. Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, 'I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know.' As we laughed she cleared her throat and began, ' We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it! There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight. Anybody! Can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change. Have no regrets.. The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets.' She concluded her speech by courageously singing 'The Rose..' She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives. At the year's end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago. One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep. Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be.
Yes, one thing I really like is Senior Discounts. Apparently, some people have respect for seniors. I am a young senior so I am not eligible for many discounts yet, but that is one of the good things I can think of. Also, some states allow free courses for those 60 and older.
I think that this time of my life has actually been the most peaceful time , at least so far. Even though I have had health issues, I still am able to enjoy life, and look forward to becoming even healthier and living a life where i can do more things as opposed to just growing older and more feeble as I age. I enjoy being able to study, and think that the internet has indeed put the world at my fingertips. I have always read books; but simply being able to google about any topic and learn about it, to me, that is awesome ! ! For most of my life, I was so busy just taking care of the necessities of life, that there really wasn't a lot of time to wonder about things, and spend time reading about the things that I was interested in. I think that it is up to each person to choose how they feel about each day of our life. No matter what happens, we always can choose to look for the worst in everything that happens, or we can choose to look for the best.
I know this is suppose to be for positives and maybe this should be in another place, but does it bug any one else when your kids treat you like a addled old fool?
Had no kids of my own, but am completely accustomed to my wife treating me like an addled old fool! Frank
I don't like the insomnia...but I do like knowing that even if I can't sleep at night...I have nothing that would prevent from sleeping in the daytime.
It is true that growing old is not for sissy's. However, growing older does bring its own rewards. For example, I care much less what people think about me and I know when someone is trying to get me to believe in something that is nothing but cow cake. Yes, there is a certain kind of freedom that growing older affords a person.
The one thing I hate about old age, besides the aches and pains, is the questions from rude, thoughtless or just stupid people. "Why you limping"? "Why you need a electric scooter, or wheelchair"? "How much did that chair cost us taxpayers"? "What disease you got"? "My friend has that illness, but he runs around and even still works full time". It just never ends. They just keep going on and on like that.
HI Terry. I am not sure what you mean by letting go of old thought patterns in how life should be. Sounds like you have experienced more than your share of loss. And deteriorating health can be a terrible burden. I am working hard to push up against the Aging Curve by trying to stay fit and trying to eat in a healthy way. Last year I needed open heart surgery and my fitness level helped me get through it much faster than normal. There are many positive aspects to getting older but not old! I am now 70 years old and loving life. Sure, there some down times when friends and relatives pass away. There are financial issues and health issues. But if you just accept them as part of aging. You will age much faster. I try to stay positive and regular exercising helps me to continue doing the things I enjoy. Check out my Blog on The Aging Curve!
I totally agree with your philosophy, @Ron La Fournie , and that is how my husband and I try to live our life, too. We have both had some serious health challenges, and decided that the most important thing that we can do is to take care of our bodies as well as we can. We want to not only have a longer life, but to continue to live an enjoyable lifestyle healthwise. What good does it do to still be alive when you lose all of the ability to do the things that we enjoy in life ? I believe that it is up to each person to be responsible for their own body, and research and find what can help them to live a better and healthier life, and for me, living medicated is just not the answer. I will definitely be checking out your blog, and looking to see what tips you have about living healthy ! Oh yes....... Welcome to the forum , too ! Glad to have another health-focused person aboard.
I thought this was about positive things in growing older? One, no more womanly stuff... Second cant get pg..Third I can do things my way and dont have to apologize, do not have to put up with terd headed customers ,Fourth, getting senior discounts...my list goes on