Before I started the Ro’s Words of Encouragement blog last November, I sent out my Weekend Words posts through e-mail to a group of friends, co-workers and clients. I still send those e-mails every Friday, but since starting the blog I also post the Weekend Words here. I am trying to go back through my older Weekend Words posts, the ones that were written before the blog existed, and share them with my blog readers. So although the below post is in the Weekend Words category, it is not this week’s official Weekend Words post. The below Weekend Words was originally published via e-mail on June 4, 2010:
Wow, what a response I received to my “Aging Gracefully” story last week. It seems that a lot of you can relate to the situation I encountered at the gym. We are overwhelmingly in agreement – we are going to continue to live our lives to the fullest, for as long as possible. As I grow older more mature and hopefully wiser, I realize the importance attitude plays in helping us live productive, healthy and happy lives. The beautiful thing about attitude is that we can control it!
Ever notice how, in general, we tend to be more attracted to people with positive attitudes? Humor is an important element of a positive attitude. Let’s all take a few moments from our stressful lives to laugh and enjoy an unknown (but very astute) author’s thoughts on aging:
Do you realize that 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 gonna be 16!’ You could be 13, but hey, you’re
gonna be 16! And then the greatest day of your life ! You become 21.
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; 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. 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 80’s 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!!
HOW TO STAY YOUNG
1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and
height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay them.
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.
3.Keep learning. ! Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening,
whatever, even ham radio. Never let the brain idle. ‘An idle mind is the
devil’s workshop.’ And the devil’s family name is Alzheimer’s.
4. Enjoy the simple things.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who
is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself with what you love , whether it’s family, pets,
keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever.Your home is your refuge.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.
Life’s journey is not to
arrive at the grave safely
in a well preserved body,
but rather to skid in sideways,
totally worn out, shouting
…what a ride!’
-Unknown
And for a little extra humor, I have to finish the story I began last week about the gym. As you remember I left off with the young lady telling her friend that she couldn’t quit because “If that old guy over there can do it, you sure can!” Well I decided I would show them! I continued at a brisk pace, determined to outlast them. Mission accomplished!
45 minutes later I slithered off the elliptical, wobbly-legged and feeling so exhausted I thought they were going to have to call the paramedics. I somehow managed to get myself moving, and I walked out of the gym in triumph. Chalk one up for the old guy! Except I couldn’t move for two days afterward.
Have a great weekend,
Ro