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It was such a beautiful day, and I was able to spend a portion of it with a group of good friends. It is moments like this which make time a thing of great value.Truly.
I was recently taking some photos, and I saw an elderly woman moving along the sidewalk with her walker. As I watched her, I was suddenly taken with the thought that we need to enjoy each and every moment which we are given. It won’t be long before we’ll look back on these days and remember them with fondness—or possibly regret...I certainly hope that we won’t reflect on our lives thinking of the things we should have done, but didn’t.
And so, I now sit here at my keyboard and I find the lyrics to “Everybody’s Free (to Wear Sunscreen)” running through my mind. Could I share a few that jumped out to me?
Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they’ve faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked.
Do one thing every day that scares you.
Don’t waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind. The race is long and, in the end, it’s only with yourself.
Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.
Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t. Maybe you’ll have children, maybe you won’t. Maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else’s.
Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them.
Get to know your parents. You never know when they’ll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings. They’re your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.
Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on…because the older you get, the more you need the people you knew when you were young.
Tomorrow is yet another day, and you know what? I think I’ll charge it to my Golden Life Card. After all—for the time being—It has no limits.
6 comments:
Thanks for this. I remember hearing it years ago but had forgotten. Good advice. I wish I talked with my dad more. I think I'll call my mom today or go over for a visit.
Wise words....It is scary to step outside the box sometimes...I've done it a few times and u know what- I worried for nothing...As far as that person u saw in the walker.. My mom would always say " that could be you" meaning never to take things for granted, to appreciate what we have and not dwell on what we don't.. That may be easier said than done...I'm still working on being ok w/what I have more than what I wished I had.
I liked these lines too:
Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room (just make sure you're not dancing in high heels and tyring to walk down stairs at the same time)
Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts,
don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours. (Wish I'd understood that years ago.)
Do one thing everyday that scares you
Sing (Hearing me sing would scare anybody!
TeachinFourth, you've done it again. You've made me smile and contemplate what wonderful things there are to be had around me. Thank you! You're like... pretty awesome. (remember that compliment!)
Oh yes, when this came out I was Enjoying the power and beauty of my youth. This speech is full of truisms.
My favorite part is,"Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else's".
Maybe people wouldn't be so hard on themselves when times are really tuff.
Marci
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