"SEND THIS BACK...."

Began yet another email promising something really funny on my computer screen if I forwarded it to at least seven other people including the person who sent it to me. ***Sigh***  Really?  The email had come as a forward from one of my co-workers and I quickly skimmed through it – and then went back and read it again – carefully this time.  How refreshing to find this was actually a message that was positive and – dare I say it – age appropriate.   I did return it to her with my own comments and then cleaned it up and forwarded it on.   If you know me at all, you’ll find that if I like what’s expressed in an email, I'm not going to forward it to you with dire warnings about being sure to send on to everyone you know, or be one of the 30% who will ignore and suffer the consequences.  Phooey on your warnings I say.    If I like it and think it’s worth sharing, you’ll see it, minus the ‘extras’.

Depending on your current age, see how you measure up against the message of the email – the author is unknown and I wish I knew who to give the credit to, perhaps it’s a compilation of several voices

"As I've aged, I've become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I’ve become my own friend.

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world, too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with ageing.

Whose business is it, if I choose to read, or play, on the computer, until 4 AM, or sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 50, 60 &70’s, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love, I will.

I will walk the beach, in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves, with abandon, if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set. They, too, will get old.

I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And, I eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years, my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break, when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody 's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But, broken hearts are what give us strength, and understanding, and compassion. A heart never broken, is pristine, and sterile, and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver. As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don’t question myself any more  I've even earned the right to be wrong. So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day (if I feel like it).

MAY OUR FRIENDSHIP NEVER COME APART, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT 'S STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART!"

The co-worker who sent it to me this afternoon – thanks Carmela – is my age and we both had to agree with the sentiments of the message.   And now I can share it with you – uncut and unedited, except for the admonitions to forward and see something funny.   I don’t need those incentives any more – the significance and lesson contained is my motivation to share.   I hope you enjoy and with Pam’s permission  I'm including her comments on the email.

“Thank you for that. A good message and a lesson.

I’ll become my own best friend.

I remember the important things.

I know the joy of being imperfect.

I've earned the right to be wrong.

No more wasting time with what could have been.

I’ll maybe even eat dessert every day. Oh, I do that already

MAY OUR FRIENDSHIP NEVER COME APART, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT 'S STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART!    This is very nice.”     Pam

We reach a certain age – not always the same for everyone – but it’s a time of “Aha”, or “Eureka”, or just the gentle dawning that life is still good and once we take the pressure from ourselves to measure up to other’s expectations perhaps it is then that we can really be ourselves, relax and breathe.  The phrase “Youth is wasted on the young” has more meaning to me now, than it did twenty years ago.  May we all come to this realization while we still have the years and friendships to enjoy!

Cheers! – oh and feel free to pass it on – no strings attached.

Liz