Growing Young

Here are some suggestions for making the years from 65 to 105 the best years of our lives and for anyone younger who wants to live abundantly: 

• Love the LORD your God with all your heart, mind and soul and love your neighbors as yourself.
• Give 10% of your investment income to a place of worship. 
• Be generous to those in need. Joy abounds with unforced giving. 
• Pray prayers of gratitude. 
• Spend time with optimists who find a rainbow in every cloud.
• Laugh eighteen times a day. Look for the humor in every situation. 
• Learn from everyone you meet. Listen more, talk less.
• Live in day-tight compartments. Forget the past. Expect the best. 
• Forgive those who have offended you.
• Apologize to those you have hurt.
• Keep your mind active and your spirit content by memorizing a Bible verse every week.
• Never, never speak these words or phrases: old, ancient, decrepit, aged, gray-haired, blue-haired, advanced in years, grizzled, senior, doddering, senile, over the hill, no spring chicken, old-fashioned, tired or worn-out. What we speak becomes a self-full-filling prophesy. 
• Add life to your years by eating moderately and exercising regularly. 
• Lavish yourself with the money you have earned. Your time is for spending not saving.*
• Drink expensive wine.
• Delight your partner with a little something from Neiman’s from time to time. Plan exotic trips. 
• Tip generously by remembering what it was like to be poor. 
• Look your best everyday. A little nip and tuck may help. 
• Have sex one or two times weekly. Viagra and Vitamins help. And a little wine perhaps?
• Dress for success by wearing clothes that show your best features. 
• Looking your best with good hair, restorative creams and first-rate dental work gives confidence and builds self-esteem. 
• Feel good on the inside by reading your Bible and absorbing positive literature. A shriveled heart paints an ugly face. 
• Keep current with news, movies and books. Use all the new gizmos. Be a social network climber. 
• Live independently. If you are alone, find a partner. 
• Cultivate hobbies. Play cards and other games.
• Stay active. Get out of the house. Attend parties and celebrations. Go for a walk. Visit galleries and museums. Go to ballgames.
• Teach your grandchildren the value of the sweet fundament joys of life. They may not recall your words, but they will remember your comforting hugs, walking hand-in-hand, fishing, oatmeal-raison cookies, sewing, quilting, reading at bedtime and saying nighttime prayers.

* For younger people whose time has not yet come invest (wisely) 15% of your earnings and you will be wealthy beyond your dreams when you reach the golden years.