By Rosie Moore

You know, time has a way of moving quickly and catching your unaware of passing years. It seems just yesterday I was young, just married and embarking on with my new life and my mate. Yet, in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went. I knew that I lived them all. I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all hopes and dreams. But, here it is, the winter of my life and it catches me by surprise. How did I get here so fast?

Where did the years go and where did my youth go? I remember well seeing old people through the years and thinking that the old people were years away from me and that winter was so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it was like.  But, here it is. My friends are retired and getting gray. They move slower and I see an older person now. Some are in better or worse shape than me, but I see the great change. Not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant, but, like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought we’d be.

Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day! And taking a nap is not a treat anymore, it’s mandatory! Cause if I don’t go on my own free will I just fall asleep where I sit! And so, I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things that I wish I had done but never did!

But, at least I know, that though the winter has come, and I’m not sure how long it will last. This I know. When it’s over on this earth, it’s over. A new adventure will begin!

Yes, I have regrets. There are things I wish I hadn’t done. Things I should have done, but indeed, there are many things I’m happy to have done. It’s all in a lifetime.

So, if you’re not in your winter yet, let me remind you that it will be here faster than you think. Whatever you want to accomplish in your life, please do it quickly. Don’t put it off too long. You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life. So, live for today.

Your kids are becoming you, but your grandchildren are perfect! Going out is good and coming home is better. You forget names but it’s ok because other people forgot they even knew you. You realize you’re never going to be really good at anything, especially golf. The things you used to care to do, you not longer care to do, but you really do care that you don’t care to do them anymore. You sleep better on a lounge chair with the TV blaring than in bed. It’s called “pre-sleep.” You miss the days when everything worked with just an “on” and “off” switch. You tend to use more 4 letter words… what? When???

Now that you can afford expensive jewelry, it’s not safe to  wear it anywhere. What used to be freckles are now liver spots. But old is good in some things: old songs, old movies, and best of all, old friends.

Thought for the day: It is health that is wealth, not gold and silver.   Anonymous.

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