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We grow older, but we don't have to grow up

Remember back when you were a teenager and you thought 25 was old? And then you got to 25 and it wasn’t so bad after all.

Remember back when you were a teenager and you thought 25 was old? And then you got to 25 and it wasn’t so bad after all.

When do we really consider ourselves old? Is it when your kids are grown up and moved out of the house or once you retire from work? Is it when you look in the mirror and say, “God, I look old with these grey hairs?”

People of the same age look so different at times it is hard to tell someone’s real age. You would look at my father-in-law and say he is in his mid-50s when he is really a shade over 65.

I always remember back to my high school days when I thought that my teachers were so old, and in fact they were most likely just out of college and about 25. I also remember thinking my parents must be so old even though I was the last of three kids and they were only 30 when I was born. I know people now who are well into their 40s and having kids.

So you ask, “Why am I going down memory lane?” Well, I was on the golf course last week and this young guy joined my friend and I. It gets a guy to thinking. This guy was just going into Grade 12 and really seemed to have things together.

He was a good athlete and a sharp looking kid, which usually results in good grades as well. He has his whole life in front of him. Now I tried to inspire a little wisdom on my new friend (I am not sure if he took it to heart or just as some old guy rambling on) because I remember some things I may or may not have done differently.

I lived a pretty good bachelor life until my early 30s when I met my now wife. I did a little travelling, had a couple different jobs but all along I always thought I had grown up.

I don’t think you ever need to grow up. Growing older we can’t control, but with growing up we have all the control in the world over that.

When I was in my early 20s, I took things quite seriously and really wanted to move forward in life. But the more I moved forward, the less seriously I took things. Then I started a community newspaper and had to take things a lot more seriously.

I had a lot of people that depended on me for their pay cheques and I had a lot of customers that wanted me to get their ads right. But during all that I still tried to have a little fun in life.

Now, as the years go by, and even though I am not the owner of this newspaper anymore, I still have just as much if not even more responsibilities. However, I think in my mind, I am growing younger. I don’t worry so much about being serious or how others look at me; I just try to enjoy life as best I can.

All you have to do is ask my wife about my singing and dancing skills around the house and she’ll be the first to tell you that she lives with a teenager. And even saying teenager is a stretch, maybe more of a pre-teen.

I have no problems acting like a goof at work or when I am around my employees. It helps to keep the office light and fun. Even though I may act like this sometimes, they all know that I need the business end of things to get done as well.

Life is too short and there are way too many things to stress about out, so take some time and do a little dance or tell a bad joke. A little more happiness in your day goes a long a way.

We can’t control the aging process of our body, but we sure can slow down the process in our mind.

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