Graceful Aging

The only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids?  If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions.

"How old are you?" "I'm four and a half!" You're never thirty-six and a half. You're four and a half, going on five! That's the key.

You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back. You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead. "How old are you?" "I'm going to be 16!" You could be 13, but hey, you're going to be 16!

And then the greatest day of your life . you become 20. Even the words sound like a ceremony.

YOU BECOME 21 . YESSSS!!!

But then you turn 30.       Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk. He TURNED 30; we had to throw him out. There's no fun now, you're just a sour-dumpling. What's wrong? What's changed?

You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, then you're PUSHING 40.!!!     Whoa! Put on the brakes, it's all slipping away.  You begin to feel your age:

Before you know it, you REACH 50 . and your dreams are gone.

But wait!!! You MAKE it to 60. You didn't think you would!

So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH 40, REACH 50, and MAKE it to 60.

You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that it's a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday!

You get into your 80s and every day is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch; you TURN 4:30; you REACH bedtime.

And it doesn't end there. Into the 90s, you start going backwards; "I was JUST 92."  

Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. "I'm 100 and a half!" May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!

WAYS TO STAY YOUNG:

Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay them.

Keep only cheerful friends.! The grouches pull you down.

        Keep learning. Learn more about the computer,   crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain become an idle workshop." …And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.

        Enjoy the simple things.

        Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath. 

        Tears happen.  Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person  with us our entire life is our self.

        Be ALIVE while you are alive.

        Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes,  music, plants, and hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

        Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

        Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.

        Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.      

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. And if you don't send this to at least 8 people - who cares? We all need to live life to it's fullest each day. Never regret becoming older; too many are denied the privilege!

Many Thanks to Carol for e-mailing this text to me…You may also enjoy my essay Hearthunger.

-- John Cowart   

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