Anyone can get older, growing up is optional'

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Anyone can get older, growing up is optional.
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On the first day of class the teacher introduced
himself to us, his students, and challenged us to
introduce ourselves to someone that we did not
know. I was standing and looking around when a
soft hand touched my shoulder. I looked back and
saw a small lady, old and wrinkled, with a smile
that lit her soul.
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She said - Hi, handsome. My name is Rose. I am
86 years old. Can I give you a hug? I laughed
and responded enthusiastically Of course you
can! She then gave me a bearhug. - I asked her
Why are you in school at such an innocent and
tender age? She jokingly responded I am here
to find a rich husband to marry, have a couple of
kids with, and later retire so that I can
travel.
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Youre kidding, I said. I was curious as to
why she had been motivated to come to school at
her advanced ago. She then added I always
dreamed of going to college, and now Im doing
it. After class we walked to the student union
and shared a chocolate milkshake. We became fast
friends. Every day during the next three months
we would go to class together and talk endlessly.

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I was ecstatic to hear this time machine
sharing her stories and wisdom with me. As the
semester went on Rose became a campus icon and
she easily made friends anywhere she went. She
dressed well and she loved the attention that the
other students gave her. She really enjoyed
life! At the end of the semester Rose was invited
to speak at the football teams annual banquet.
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- Ill never forget what she taught us that day.
She was introduced and walked towards the podium.
When she started to read her prepared speech some
of the sheets fell to the floor. Frustrated and a
bit nervous she simply said - Forgive me. I
am so nervous! I stopped drinking in Easter and
this whiskey is killing me. I will never be able
to get my papers in order now, so let me speak to
you about that which I know.
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As we laughed she cleared her throat and
began We dont stop loving because we get old
we get old because we stop loving. There are a
few tips to staying young, happy and successful.
You have to laugh and find humor each day. It is
necessary to have a dream. When we forget about
our dreams, we die. There are so many people who
are walking around dead and they dont even
realize it! There is a great difference between
getting old and growing up.
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.If youre 19 and you stay in bed for an entire
year, without doing anything productive, you will
get to be 20 years old. If Im 87 and I stay in
bed without doing a thing Ill get to 88. Anyone
can get older. Getting old doesnt require effort
or talent. The idea is to grow by looking for
opportunities to enrich your lives. That doesnt
require any special talent or ability. Achieve
growth by always looking for the opportunity to
change. Dont harbor regret. Old people usually
dont regret that which they did, but the things
that they did not do. The only people who are
afraid of death are those who regret.
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Rose concluded by challenging us to study poetry
and practice it in our daily lives. At the end of
the year Rose completed the remaining credits of
the degree that she had started working on
decades earlier. One week after her graduation,
Rose died peacefully in her sleep. More than two
thousand students from the school attended the
funeral to honor that marvelous woman who, with
her example, showed us that it is never too late
to be all that we can probably be.
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When you finish reading this, send it to your
friends and family, they will surely appreciate
it. These lessons are shared with love in Roses
memory. Remember Anyone can get older, growing
up is optional.
If you read this with your heart you will be
wiser, but if you read this with your mind you
will only be older.
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Dear friends It pleases me to share these
passages, images, and remembrances which I have
received and that I know you will
appreciate. Those whose authors are known have
the pertinent credit reflected your comments and
feedback through the forums that are reflected
here will be valued. The distribution of these
materials is free and without any commercial
purpose. Nonetheless, those of you who do not
wish to continue receiving them can note your
desire in the appropriate space in this message.
It is my intent, however, to promote culture and
traditions in a positive manner.
Regards, Demetrio Pérez Jr.