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Remember, growing older is mandatory, growing up is optional!

Reblogger
Real Estate Agent VA#0225195155

This is such a great story Roger has shared. Rose can make such a positive impressiontoall of us. We regret the things we do not do...

 

Original content by Roger D. Mucci

 

This tugged at my heart strings, how about you?
An amazing story of Life!
**********

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 revelled 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 humour 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. 



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. 

Make it a great day! 

Please visit my website at www.shakenwithatwist.com or e-mail me at roger@shakenwithatwist.com

Please check out my brother Anthony's website.  

He owns a dog walking and pet sitting service in Fort Lauderdale.  

You, or someone you know may need his services some day.

http://www.dailydogwalkers.com/

Posted by

 

Scott Fogleman


Real Estae In Richmond

New Home Team

Lynchburg Luxury Homes

804-573-9592

scott@scottfogleman.com

New Home Team

For new Homes or homes new to you!

 

Keller WilliamsRichmond, Lynchburg, Roanoke VA

Scott Fogleman is a Realtor serving Richmond VA, Lynchburg, VA, Roanoke,VA, and Smith Mountain Lake, VA. He is licensed in the state of Virginia.

Keller Williams

 

 

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Comments (3)

Wallace S. Gibson, CPM
Gibson Management Group, Ltd. - Charlottesville, VA
LandlordWhisperer

Scott * If I had known I was going to last this long, I'd have taken better care of my self....HeHeHe

Aug 20, 2012 08:44 PM
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

Thank you for the post. I will bookmark it and share it with others.

Aug 20, 2012 09:14 PM
Scott Fogleman
Richmond, VA

wallace- Dont sell yourself short. I bet you have taken great care of yourself.. the amount of energy you put forth here proves it.

Aug 20, 2012 09:55 PM