<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<!-- generator="Created by as "Netfluence"" -->
<opml xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
    <head>
        <title>Being GLAD</title>
    </head>
    <body>
    <outline type="rss"  title="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;5&amp;quot; color=&amp;quot;#ff0000&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Growing Up or &amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;Growing Old&amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. &amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;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.&amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;She said, &amp;amp;quot;Hi, handsome! My name is Rose. I'm 87 years old. &amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Can I give you a hug?&amp;amp;quot;&amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;I laughed and enthusiastically responded, &amp;amp;quot;Of course you may!&amp;amp;quot; and she gave me a giant squeeze.&amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?&amp;amp;quot; I asked. She jokingly replied, &amp;amp;quot;I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, have a couple of children, and then retire and travel.&amp;amp;quot;&amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;No seriously,&amp;amp;quot; I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.&amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!&amp;amp;quot; she told me.&amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake. We became instant friends. &amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop.&amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;I was always mesmerized listening to this &amp;amp;quot;time machine&amp;amp;quot; 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.&amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;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 3x5 cards on the floor.&amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, &amp;amp;quot;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.&amp;amp;quot; As we laughed, she cleared her throat and &amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;began:&amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;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 and find humor everyday. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead, and they don't even know it!&amp;amp;quot; she said.&amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;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 20 years old. If I am 87 years old, and stay in bed for a year, and never do anything, I will turn 88. Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability,&amp;amp;quot; she added.&amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;The idea is to grow up by always finding the 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.&amp;amp;quot;&amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;She concluded her speech by courageously singing &amp;amp;quot;The Rose.&amp;amp;quot; &amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives.&amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;At the years end, Rose finished the college degree she had &amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;begun all those years ago. One week after graduation Rose &amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;died peacefully in her sleep. Over two thousand college &amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful &amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be &amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;all you can possibly be.&amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;" text="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;5&amp;quot; color=&amp;quot;#ff0000&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Growing Up or &amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;Growing Old&amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. &amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;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.&amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;She said, &amp;amp;quot;Hi, handsome! My name is Rose. I'm 87 years old. &amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Can I give you a hug?&amp;amp;quot;&amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;I laughed and enthusiastically responded, &amp;amp;quot;Of course you may!&amp;amp;quot; and she gave me a giant squeeze.&amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?&amp;amp;quot; I asked. She jokingly replied, &amp;amp;quot;I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, have a couple of children, and then retire and travel.&amp;amp;quot;&amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;No seriously,&amp;amp;quot; I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.&amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!&amp;amp;quot; she told me.&amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake. We became instant friends. &amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop.&amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;I was always mesmerized listening to this &amp;amp;quot;time machine&amp;amp;quot; 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.&amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;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 3x5 cards on the floor.&amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, &amp;amp;quot;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.&amp;amp;quot; As we laughed, she cleared her throat and &amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;began:&amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;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 and find humor everyday. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead, and they don't even know it!&amp;amp;quot; she said.&amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;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 20 years old. If I am 87 years old, and stay in bed for a year, and never do anything, I will turn 88. Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability,&amp;amp;quot; she added.&amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;&amp;amp;quot;The idea is to grow up by always finding the 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.&amp;amp;quot;&amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;She concluded her speech by courageously singing &amp;amp;quot;The Rose.&amp;amp;quot; &amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives.&amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;At the years end, Rose finished the college degree she had &amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;begun all those years ago. One week after graduation Rose &amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;died peacefully in her sleep. Over two thousand college &amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful &amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be &amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;font face=&amp;quot;arial,helvetica,sans-serif&amp;quot; size=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;all you can possibly be.&amp;lt;/font&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;" url="http://www.beingglad.com/growing-up-or-growing-a23.html"/>
    </body>
</opml>
