> >Subject: re: Words of Wisdom

> >Subject: re: Words of Wisdom
> >
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> 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 round 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,
> > >> and
> > >>have a couple of kids..."
> > >>
> > >>
> > > "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 expe rience 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 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.
> > >>
> > >> Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability.
> >The
> > >> idea is to
> > >>grow up by always finding opportunity in change. Have no regrets.
> > >>
> > >>
> > > The elderly usually don't have regrets fo! r wha t 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.
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > > REMEMBER, GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY. GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL.
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>We make a Living by what we get, We make a Life by what we give.
> > >>
> > >>
> > > God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage. If God brings
> you
> >to
> > > it. He will bring you through it.
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> Pass this message to 7 people except you and me. You will
> > >> receive
> a
> > >> miracle
> > >>tomorrow.
> > >>
> > >>
> > > If you choose not, then you refuse to bless someone else.
> > >>
> > >
> > >>
> > >>"Good friends are like stars.........You don't always see them,
> > >>but
> >you
> > >>know they are always there."
> >
> >