Category: Elder Folk
If there's one thing I've learned on this earth for half a century, it's what life's all about. A worn-out cliche perhaps, but I'm wondering what you all have learned. What experiences make the most outstanding impact in your memories.
First, I drank my youth like a fine wine. I married, had kids, watched them grow, divorced, married again. I gained 15 minutes of fame once or twice, survived the death of a husband, lost pieces of my life along the way, but gained a lot also.
I learned what it means to fall in love, and have my heart broken once or twice. I've climbed mountains of triumph, walked through valleys of despair, watched dreams turn to dust, and blue moons turn to gold. I've seen history slowly unfold , and am I glad I'm the age I am now? Yes, I believe so. I'm to young to be old, but I'm old enough to rely on what life has taught me. If someone asked me what's the greatest thing I've learned, I'd have to say life's a gift, and you only live once. Happiness can be found in the most unexpected times and places.
When someone I know dies, say an acquaintance, it's so awesome to think they felt, loved, became angry, experienced all the moods of the human spirit. They've completed this journey, went on to something else, and unless you know someone, someone who's not famous, you don't know they were even here.
I've learned I can chase my dreams, fullfil my destiny, be the being I was meant to be. Maybe this topic is unusual, but I love to hear the things other people have learned who are as old as we are.
My close friend is in the hospital and may never come out. Certainly he's unlikely to travel much again. I'm so grateful we went to France and went to Spain together, road tripped across the US, and had some wonderful dinners together. I'm glad he and his wife did both riverboat trips, that our family sent them to London for their 40th anniversary. What I learned is Carpe Deium. Do it now because tomorrow will indeed be too late.
Hmmm, I can't say I can offer particular experiences that generated particular life lessons, but I might offer up a few philosophies that seem to work for me. Your mileage may vary of course.
First, I find as I grow older, what most people think just doesn't matter, just because any person can know just one thing about you and act as if they have your whole life pegged. These people are called fools and are not worth your time and energy and do not make your life fun or happy. Avoid them.
Don't let other people, your TV set, or popular magazines define you, for if you do, you'll never be a happy or contented person.
It's OK to be different and to do things in ways that are different, as long as you get the results you want.
Think for yourself, question society, and even dare to question so-called authority when you can.
Treat others the way you wish to be treated, and not the way that'll amuse your buddies and make you look cool by being the bad-ass.
The meaning of life is fourty-two.
You can't fix everybody. Some people will get it, and others will not.
There, some wonderful life philosophies to chew on.