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,
> have a couple of children, and then retire and travel.">
>
> "No seriously," I said. 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 the 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 years 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.
>
> If you read this, please send this peaceful word of advice to your
> friends and family, they'll really enjoy it!
>
> GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY,
> GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL.
>
> 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,
> have a couple of children, and then retire and travel.">
>
> "No seriously," I said. 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 the 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 years 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.
>
> If you read this, please send this peaceful word of advice to your
> friends and family, they'll really enjoy it!
>
> GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY,
> GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL.
>
