Life Lessons From A Little Old Lady Named Rose.

Often I find a story or article that really inspires me that I feel I must share, Today is one of those days and while this story might not be relevant to marketing your business it does have a few life lessons that can be taken from this.

This specific one has a few life lessons for me;

Firstly do you ever consider how often people come and go in your life and what impact they have had or you might have on theirs.

This story highlights how simply to choose to live openly, share freely and engage daily with others not only adds value to your life but so many others lives too. This got me thinking how often I sit in my office oblivious to the outer world engaged in my home business activities, and yes, while I am adding value where ever possible online, I could be doing more in my immediate neighborhood and society – even my own home.

So without further ado let me share with you the story that inspired me today ( I might add a little last word at the bottom once you’re done reading this)

The Rose;

The first day of university our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn’t already know. I stood up to
look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder.

I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being..

She said, ‘Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I’m eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?’

I laughed and enthusiastically responded, ‘Of course you may!’ and she gave me a giant squeeze..

‘Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?’ I asked.

 She jokingly replied, ‘I’m here to meet a rich husband, get married, and have a couple of kids….’

 “No seriously,’ I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be making on this challenge at her age.

‘I always dreamed of having a college education and now I’m getting one!’ she told me.

 After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake. We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this ‘time machine’ as she shared her wisdom and experience with me..

 Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up.

 At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I’ll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she
dropped her three by five cards on the floor.

Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, ‘I’m sorry I’m so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this
whiskey is killing me! I’ll never get my speech back in order so let me just
tell you what I know.’

 As we laughed she cleared her throat and began, ‘ We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing..

There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success.

• You have to laugh, Find humour in every day 
• Show a little kindness daily 
• You have to have a dream, when you lose your dreams, you die. 

We have so many people walking around who are dead and don’t even know it!

There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don’t do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight.

 Anybody can grow older. That doesn’t take any talent or ability.

The idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change.

• Have no regrets.

The elderly usually don’t have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets..’

She concluded her speech by courageously singing ‘The Rose.’ She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives. At the year’s end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those months ago.

One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep.

Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it’s never too late to be all you can possibly be.

Remember, Growing older is mandatory, growing up is optional. 

We make a living by what we get. We make a Life by what we give.

Now, I did mention that this special story had a few life lessons in it for me, How about you?

What other life lessons did you get from it today. I ‘d love to hear your thoughts on this or any other story that you might have heard that inspired you today or any other day.

What impact did it have on your life and how did you go about making the change. Leave me a comment in the comment section below or follow the facebook link and friend me on facebook. Go on I‘m  waiting – I’ll be right here when you’re done.

Oh, one last thing – I added a video of “ The Rose” right here for you along with the lyrics – Yes, They are awesome

 

May you today choose to be “the rose” in someone else’s life

Much love,