Ideals & Enthusiasm

As my parents adventure through their seventies I frequently contemplate the differing ways that we age. Some people fixate on the numbers, the statistics, the chronologically worsening odds. Others defy the odds, not so much by fighting age or existing outside of the real world continuum, but by mentally and emotionally transcending the pull of time.

My mother is one of the best examples of this.

Her energy and attitude suggest that she’s half her age. At most!

She dreams and schemes and plans and inspires. She laughs and draws and swims and hikes and reads and debates and volunteers and meditates and travels and cooks and maintains old friendships and forges new friendships and wonders and wanders…

My mother is an idealist, an optimist, and a perennial enthusiast. She’s not clinging to this pollyanna triad in order to stay young. It’s just the way she is.

But the benefits to her (and to all of us who are fortunate enough to share her company) are evident.

“Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.” ~ Samuel Ullman

There are no wrinkles in my mother’s soul!

While enjoying a lazy, far-flung conversation with my bride, sister-in-law, and nephew over breakfast I witnessed this wonderful t-shirt worn by a fellow a bit younger (or older? Who knows?!?!) than my mother.

"You only live once but if you live right once is enough!" (Spied on a t-shirt today. So, so, SO true!) #wisdom #quoteoftheday #quotation pic.twitter.com/Zi45Pnr7ke

— virtualDavis (@virtualDavis) April 27, 2017

What an important reminder.

“You only live once but if you live right once is enough!”

Polish up your ideals, and nourish your enthusiasm. Let’s make sure this one life is enough.