Got this today from a childhood friend - seemed appropriate for this thread.
And then it was Winter
I FIRST STARTED READING THIS EMAIL & WAS READING FAST UNTIL
I REACHED THE THIRD SENTENCE. I STOPPED AND STARTED OVER,
READING SLOWER AND THINKING ABOUT EVERY WORD.
THIS EMAIL IS THOUGHT PROVOKING.
MAKES YOU STOP AND THINK. READ SLOWLER!
AND THEN IT IS WINTER
You know, time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of
the passing years. It seems just yesterday that I was young, just married
and embarking on my new life with my mate. Yet in a way, it seems like eons
ago, and I wonder where all the years went. I know that I lived them all.
I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams.
But, here it is, the winter of my life and it catches me by surprise...How
did it get here so fast? Where did the years go and where did my youth go?
I remember well seeing older people through the years and thinking that
those older people were years away from me and that winter was so far off
that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like.
But, here it is...my friends are retired and getting grey...they move slower
and I see an older person now. Some are in better and some worse shape than
I am...but, I see the great change...Not like the ones that I remember who
were young and vibrant...but, like me, their age is beginning to show and we
are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought we'd be.
And so...now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the
aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things
that I wish I had done but never did!! But, at least I know that though the
winter has come, and I'm not sure how long it will last...this I know, that
when it's over on this earth...it's not over. A new adventure will begin!
Yes, I have regrets. There are things I wish I hadn't done...things I
should have done, but indeed, there are many things I'm happy to have done.
It's all in a lifetime.
So, if you're not in your winter yet...let me remind you, that it will
be here faster than you think. Whatever you would like to accomplish in your
life, please do it quickly! Don't put things off too long!! Life goes by
quickly. Do what you can today, as you can never be sure whether this is
your winter or not! You have no promise that you will see all the seasons
of your life...so, live for today and say all the things that you want your
loved ones to remember...and hope that they appreciate and love you for all
the things that you have done for them in all the years past!!
"Life" is a gift to you. The way you live your life is your gift to
those who come after. Make it a fantastic one.
LIVE IT WELL! ENJOY TODAY!
DO SOMETHING FUN! BE HAPPY ! HAVE A GREAT DAY!
Remember "It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver."
LIVE HAPPY IN 2020! LASTLY, CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING: TODAY IS THE
OLDEST YOU'VE EVER BEEN, YET THE YOUNGEST YOU'LL EVER BE. SO - ENJOY
THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS.
~Your kids are becoming you......but your grandchildren are perfect!
~Going out is good.. Coming home is better! ~You forget names.... But
it's OK because other people forgot they even knew you!!! ~You realize
you're never going to be really good at anything.... Especially golf.
~The things you used to care to do, you no longer care to do, but you really
do care that you don't care to do them anymore. ~You sleep better on a
lounge chair with the TV blaring than in bed. It's called "pre-sleep".
~You miss the days when everything worked with just an "ON" and "OFF"
switch.. ~You tend to use more 4 letter words ... "what?"..."when?"...
~Now that you can afford expensive jewelry, it's not safe to wear it
anywhere. ~You notice everything they sell in stores is "sleeveless"?!!!
~What used to be freckles are now liver spots. ~Everybody whispers.
~You have 3 sizes of clothes in your closet.... 2 of which you will never
wear again. ~~~But Old is good in some things: Old Songs, Old movies,
and best of all, OLD FRIENDS!!
Stay well, "OLD FRIEND!" Send this on to other "Old Friends!" and
that tells what kind of life you have lived.