What will your story be?

If I could have one wish in life, it would be that my mom had aged as well as Rose.  Below is the story of Rose.  It is a story that has circulated the web universe thousands of times I am sure.  I thought it was worth reading again, and sharing with you.  Even if you have read this before - read it again.

I believe we all age in our own way with some help or problems that genetics deals to us at birth.  Striving to age in your own way and overcoming road blocks is all up to you through your personal choices.

Although my own aging goals look different from those of Rose, I choose to follow the spirit and the words of wisdom from Rose.

Here is Rose's story ... (working on making my story look similar to this).

***

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 around 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 experience 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 for what 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 months 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.

***

Excuse me now, while I go out for my walk!

Cheers