Winter of My Life

This is so appropriate and meaningful.  We never thought it would happen to us.  Check it out.

AND THEN IT IS WINTER 

I FIRST  STARTED READING THIS EMAIL & WAS READING FAST UNTIL I REACHED THE  THIRD SENTENCE. I STOPPED AND STARTED OVER READING SLOWER AND THINKING  ABOUT EVERY WORD. THIS EMAIL IS VERY THOUGHT PROVOKING. MAKES YOU STOP  AND THINK. READ SLOWLY! 

You know. . .  time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing  years. It seems just yesterday that I was young, just married and  embarking on my new life with my mate. Yet in a way, it seems like eons  ago, and I wonder where all the years went. I know that I lived them  all. I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my 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 older people through the years and thinking that  those older people were years away from me and that winter was so far  off that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be  like.   

But, here it  is...my friends are retired and getting grey...they move slower and I  see an older person now. Some are in better and some 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 on my own free will... I just fall asleep  where I sit!   

And so...now  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,  that when it's over on this earth...its 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. So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your  life please do it quickly! Don't put things off too long!! Life goes by  quickly. So, do what you can today, as you can never be sure whether  this is your winter or not! You have no promise that you will see all  the seasons of your life...so, live for today and say all the things  that you want your loved ones to remember...and hope that they  appreciate and love you for all the things that you have done for them  in all the years past!!  "Life"  is a gift to you. The way you live your life is your gift to those who  come after. Make it a fantastic one. 

LIVE IT  WELL!    ENJOY  TODAY!    DO SOMETHING  FUN!    BE HAPPY  !    HAVE A GREAT  DAY 

Remember "It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of  gold and silver. 

LIVE  HAPPY IN YOUR LIFE! 

LASTLY,  CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING: 
K

TODAY  IS THE OLDEST YOU'VE EVER BEEN, YET THE YOUNGEST YOU'LL EVER BE SO -  ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS. 

~Your  kids are becoming you......but your grandchildren are perfect!
~Going  out is good.. 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 no 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.
~You  notice everything they sell in stores is "sleeveless"?!!!  ~What  used to be freckles are now liver spots.
~Everybody whispers.
~You  have 3 sizes of clothes in your closet.... 2 of which you will never  wear.
~But  Old is good in some things: Old Songs, Old movies, and best of all, OLD  FRIENDS!! 

Stay  well, "OLD FRIEND!" Send this on to other "Old Friends!" and let them  laugh in AGREEMENT!!!  It's  Not What You Gather, But What You Scatter That Tells What Kind Of Life  You Have Lived.