On the first day of college, our professor challenged us to meet someone new. As I stood up, a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned to see a beaming, elderly lady. "Hi, handsome. I'm Rose. I'm 87. Can I give you a hug?" she said. After a warm embrace, I asked why she was in college at her age. She joked, "To find a rich husband!" Then seriously, she added, "I always dreamed of a college education, and now I'm getting one."
We became instant friends. For months, we talked daily. I was mesmerized by her wisdom. Rose became a campus icon, loved by all for her vibrant spirit.
At the end-of-semester football banquet, Rose was invited to speak. As she began, she dropped her note cards. Flustered, she leaned into the microphone and said, "I'm sorry I'm jittery. I gave up beer for Lent, and this whiskey is killing me! Let me just tell you what I know."
After we laughed, she shared her wisdom:
"We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. The secrets to staying young, happy, and successful are simple:
1. Laugh and find humor every day.
2. You must have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die.
3. Understand the difference between growing older and growing up. Anyone can grow older; that requires no talent. Growing up means always finding opportunity in change.
4. Have no regrets. The elderly rarely regret what they did, but rather what they did not do. Only those with regrets fear death."
She concluded by courageously singing "The Rose." At year's end, Rose earned her degree.
One week after graduation, Rose passed away peacefully in her sleep. Over two thousand students attended her funeral, honoring the woman who proved it's never too late to become all you can be.
Remember: Growing older is mandatory. Growing up is optional. We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.