How to stay young

You have probably seen this before, but I think it's worth sharing. I got it from one of the moms of my last advisement group. Like usual, I've added my commentary in parentheses.

HOW TO STAY YOUNG
1. Try everything twice. On one woman's tombstone she said she wanted this epitaph: "Tried everything twice. Loved it both times!"
(This is great advice. Everything and everybody should be given a second chance. What if no one ever gave US second chances?)

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down. Keep this in mind if you are one of those grouches!
(Yes, I know that sometimes I am one of those grouches, but I try hard not to be. I can say that I have some of the most cheerful friends in the world. They help keep me positive when things seem awfully negative.)

3. Keep learning: Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain get idle. 'An idle mind is the devil's workshop.' And the devil's name is Alzheimer's!
(I LOVE to learn! That’s one reason I became a teacher. I hope that I have instilled a love of learning in my students. And yes, the Devil’s name IS Alzheimer’s! He lives in our family, and I hate him!!)

4. Enjoy the simple things.
(I love simple things--a flower, a baby's smile, sunshine. There is nothing like the little things in life.)

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath. And if you have a friend who makes you laugh, spend lots and lots of time with HIM/HER.
(Laughter IS the best medicine. Don’t you just love laughing until you hurt? So many of my friends and family make me laugh. And I cannot NOT say something about my hubby. He is one big ole goofball! He makes me laugh EVERY day. I fell in love with his laugh before I fell in love with him.)

6. The tears happen: Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. LIVE while you are alive.
(Unfortunately there are events in our lives that make us cry. I hope that your tears have been few and far between!)

7. Surround yourself with what you love: Whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
(Not a day goes by that I’m not surrounded by the people and things I love. I have the best hubby, the best pets, the best friends, the best co-workers a person could have. My home IS my refuge. It is where I long to be when life throws me a curve.)

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
(John and I are very fortunate that we are in good health for the most part. His diabetes is now under control. YEA!! Our parents are, for the most part, healthy. Billie’s Alzheimer’s is the biggest concern for her. My parents are 71 and 65, and neither act or seem 71 or 65.)

9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county, To a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.
(Guilt trips? Not on my agenda! A trip to England?? When can we leave????)

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity. I love you, my special friend.
(My cousin NEVER hangs up the phone or leaves without saying “I love you.” We never know when, or if, we’ll see or talk to that person again. I can’t imagine knowing that the last thing I said to someone I love wasn’t “I love you!”)

11. Forgive now those who made you cry. You might not get a second chance.
(Forgiveness can be so hard, but like I said above, we never know if we’ll ever have the chance to see or talk to someone again.)

It's a fairly nice day here. I actually see SUNSHINE! First time that's happened in several days. :) I hope you have a GREAT day!