16 replies to this topic

[Gimmy]

My brother in law sent this to me and I thought "How true" this is

So very, very true…..and beautiful.
  
And then it is Winter.

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.
And yet in a way, it seems like eons ago,
and I wonder where all the years went.
I know that I lived them all...

And 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 gray,
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...it's over.
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!
BE THANKFUL!

[Unclebuck257]

WOW Gimmy!! All I can say is "How true!!" and Thank You for posting that!

[SPECIALIZED]

Thanks much for sharing, brings a lot home to me.

[Hurricane]

Wow !!! How true was every word in that. THANKS for sharing, Dee.

[maad]

Very nice thanks for sharing.

[Ranger]

Good stuff, Gimmy.

It made me think of some words from John Denver's "Poems, Prayers and Promises:"

"The days, they pass so quickly now
Nights are seldom long.
And time around me whispers when it's cold.
The changes some how frighten me,
Still I have to smile.
It turns me on to think of growing old."

Time keeps getting shorter the longer we live.  I once hated winters for being long.  Now they seem short, but these days I just hate winter's cold being harder on my older body.  When I was young, the years seemed to pass slowly.   Now I look back and it seems I must have time traveled to the present, with the remaining time racing toward the end of life in this body.  Portions of my past existence seem like a different life altogether.   I live with a few regrets of things I did and didn't do.  Regardless of my faults and any problems along the way, I've never wished I was someone else.  I see others who died young, who never got to really see the fulfillment of their personality and I'm thankful to be me.  Thankful I had a chance to live and be somebody with a history and experience some remarkable things along the way.  Knowing that I, as this person I know as myself, will  carry these things with me into the future and beyond my time here.  And I suppose I'll look back in that next life and ponder over this one.  I'll see more astutely how fragile I was, see that I misunderstood many things, and that by the grace of God I got to exist and made it so far.  And if I die tomorrow, I die knowing that despite all the good and bad, I was given a chance to know God and be who I am.  For that I am thankful.  What more could I want?

[Ky.Longbeard]

Thanks for posting ,Gimmy.

[cal45]

That was beautiful Gimmy. Thank You.
Thinking back on my life I have nothing that I am ashamed of. I probably could have done some things better though. If I don't wake tomorrow I will die a happy man. I have spent many years with a great wife. I have two fine sons. My oldest is married and he and my daughter in law have given me two great grand kids. My youngest son is engaged to a sweetheart of a girl. She just this past Sunday graduated from nursing school. She treats him well, takes care of him and she's a darn good cook to boot. There's really nothing more I can ask for.

[ridgehunter]

Ranger, on 19 January 2012 - 03:02 AM, said:

Good stuff, Gimmy.

It made me think of some words from John Denver's "Poems, Prayers and Promises:"

"The days, they pass so quickly now
Nights are seldom long.
And time around me whispers when it's cold.
The changes some how frighten me,
Still I have to smile.
It turns me on to think of growing old."

Time keeps getting shorter the longer we live.  I once hated winters for being long.  Now they seem short, but these days I just hate winter's cold being harder on my older body.  When I was young, the years seemed to pass slowly.   Now I look back and it seems I must have time traveled to the present, with the remaining time racing toward the end of life in this body.  Portions of my past existence seem like a different life altogether.   I live with a few regrets of things I did and didn't do.  Regardless of my faults and any problems along the way, I've never wished I was someone else.  I see others who died young, who never got to really see the fulfillment of their personality and I'm thankful to be me.  Thankful I had a chance to live and be somebody with a history and experience some remarkable things along the way.  Knowing that I, as this person I know as myself, will  carry these things with me into the future and beyond my time here.  And I suppose I'll look back in that next life and ponder over this one.  I'll see more astutely how fragile I was, see that I misunderstood many things, and that by the grace of God I got to exist and made it so far.  And if I die tomorrow, I die knowing that despite all the good and bad, I was given a chance to know God and be who I am.  For that I am thankful.  What more could I want?

That is a great post, Gimmy,  Rangers response says it better than I can.  As my dad lay dying he said value every moment because time is so short.  He passed in dignity and bravely despite the suffering from cancer.  He was confident in his faith all of his life.  His end was just another beginning for him.  I hope that I have lived half as well and can take that last step home with as much faith.

[Hurricane]

Bringing this back up. A LOT of truth here, and, also Allen's post bears another read. THANKS again Dee for the original post. For many of us it ia all too fitting.

[maad]

cal45, on 20 January 2012 - 04:43 PM, said:

That was beautiful Gimmy. Thank You.
Thinking back on my life I have nothing that I am ashamed of. I probably could have done some things better though. If I don't wake tomorrow I will die a happy man. I have spent many years with a great wife. I have two fine sons. My oldest is married and he and my daughter in law have given me two great grand kids. My youngest son is engaged to a sweetheart of a girl. She just this past Sunday graduated from nursing school. She treats him well, takes care of him and she's a darn good cook to boot. There's really nothing more I can ask for.

Wow thanks for bringing this back up Hurricane. Allen's post should help us all cope, Allen your still helping us thanks brother we miss you.

[huntingal]

Great post Gimmy, I think of this often as I look in the mirror and wonder where that young chick went, there's a much older face there in her place.
But it's the age we feel in our hearts that matter most. Sure the jars get a little harder to open, we take the escalator instead of the stairs at the mall, the ache and pains we feel here and there are harder to ignore. But in the end, keeping a young heart, living to appreciate each day we still have to enjoy the ones we love so much, well, it doesn't get any better than that.

[Highlander]

Thanks for sharing.

[Corky]

My Grandmother, not many days before her passing, said to me...

As you are now,
so I once was.
Live your days,
Make your peace,
and follow me!

Corky

[huntingal]

That is a  very sweet memory Corky.

[Corky]

Gal,
Made me tear up... but she had a long a good life.

Corky

[Unclebuck257]

That was beautiful Gimmy and being able to read Cal's post to this thread made it even more special. Thanks!!