On the first day of school, our professor challenged us to meet someone new. As I stood up, a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned to see a small, elderly lady with a radiant smile.
"Hi, handsome. I'm Rose. I'm eighty-seven. Can I give you a hug?" she said. I laughed and agreed, receiving a warm embrace.
"Why are you in college at such a young age?" I joked. She replied playfully, "To find a rich husband, get married, have kids, then retire and travel!"
"Seriously?" I asked.
"I always dreamed of a college education," she said sincerely. We became instant friends, sharing a milkshake after class. For months, we talked daily. I was mesmerized by her wisdom and stories.
Rose became a campus icon, making friends easily and enjoying the attention bestowed upon her. She was invited to speak at a football banquet. As she began her speech, she dropped her note cards. Frustrated, she leaned into the microphone and said, "I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent, and this whisky is killing me! Let me just tell you what I know."
She began: "We don't stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. Here are four secrets to staying young, happy, and successful:"
- "Laugh and find humor every day."
- "Have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. Many people walk around dead and don't even know it."
- "Understand the difference between growing older and growing up. Anyone can grow older; that requires no talent. To grow up, find opportunity in change."
- "Have no regrets. The elderly regret what they didn't do, not what they did. Only those with regrets fear death."
She concluded by courageously singing "The Rose," urging us to live by its lyrics.
Rose earned her degree that year. One week after graduation, she passed away peacefully in her sleep. Over two thousand students attended her funeral, honoring a woman who proved it's never too late to become your best self.
Remember: growing older is mandatory; growing up is optional.