 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Growing Up... Or Growing Old
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, have a couple of children, and then retire and travel."
"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 everyday.
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 the 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 years 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.
Send this article to a friend
Source Unknown
|
|
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
It's so nice to see you this wonderful Monday!
I know... most people don't think too well of Mondays. I like adventures and for me, Monday is the start of a new week... a new adventure.
There are a lot of people that get stuck in ruts and routines. So for them, Monday represents starting back at the beginning of something they've done a thousand times before.
Y U C K ! ! !
I know sometimes things can get routine. Taking care of the kids, doing laundry, mowing the lawn, going to work... the things that make up everyday life.
What people fail to realize is that fabled line we give children when they complain of boredom... "You're only as bored as you want/allow yourself to be."
As we get older we seem to get trapped into routines. Maybe it's because like the children, we're waiting for someone else to liven up our life?
Well, like those children who complain of boredom... we're only as trapped in our routines as we allow ourselves to be.
It's up to you to make a change... to seek out the good that life holds for you. It won't be delivered on a silver platter.
As today's message goes, it's up to you to either grow up or just grow old.
Make sure you live your best life everyday,
Jon Nare
Editor, Collective Journeys
P.S. If you're looking for a change and unsure what direction to head in, check out the Life Forward Power System and smash the barriers in your life.
http://www.trueinspiredliving.com/lifeforward/
See What Other Members of True Insights
Are Using To Change Their Lives
FINALLY: A proven way to uncover and set into motion the life you are meant to live! More Info...
If you want to learn how to take control of your destiny through your attitude, Click Here
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
