Growing
Up vs. Growing Older
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 kids..."
"No seriously," I asked. I was curious what may have motivated you
to be
taking on this challenge at your 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
our 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 years old. 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 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.
When you finish reading this, please send this peaceful word of advice
to your friends and family, they'll really enjoy it!
These words have been passed along in loving memory of ROSE, whose
life's motto was to REMEMBER THAT GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY. GROWING UP
IS OPTIONAL. We make a Living by what we get and we make a Life by
what
we give.
Some
say love it is a river
That drowns the tender reed
Some say love it is a razor
that leaves your soul to bleed
Some say love it is a hunger
and endless aching need
I say love it is a flower
and you its only seed
It's the heart afraid of breaking
that never learns to dance
It's the dream afraid of waking
that never takes the chance
It's the one who won't be taken
who cannot seem to give
and the soul afraid of dyin'
that never learns to live
When the night has been too lonely
and the road has been too long
and you think that love is only
for the lucky and the strong
Just remember in the winter
far beneath the bitter snow
lies the seed that with the sun's love
in the spring becomes the rose
Thanks
Kevin for sharing that story with us today. Most of us who think we can, know we
can.
The fact is if we quit striving, we give up our reason for being. So,
today let's see where this thought takes us for a time.
Much love to all,
Peggy