Things I've Learned Going On Age 72

Some things I've learned going on age 72.

I've learned that if things are going bad, I don't need to go there with them.

I've learned that if you wait to my age to retire and enjoy the good life, you've waited too long.

I've learned that it's reasonable to enjoy your success, but not to be overly confident of it and that you cannot change
what things you might have wanted to change in your past, but you can leave them behind.

I've learned that yes, there are some people who were born to be intrinsically bad and are incorrigible.

I've learned that you cannot go on a trip without gaining at least ten pounds.

I've learned that aging is important.

I've learned that my lifelong love/hate of exercise has rewarded me richly in old age with strength, agility and stamina.

I've learned that some of the most articulate and smartest people I've ever met have been at a bar.

I've learned the best way to get to know a country and it's people is traveling on a Harley on the backroads for weeks at a time.

I've learned that if you feel lonely, it's because you built walls instead of bridges.

I've learned that I loved less than I should have.

I've learned to sing and dance as if nobody was listening or watching.

I've learned that "stay" is a beautiful word in the vocabulary of a friend.

I've learned that I don't now have the desire to hunt and kill animals or birds like I use to love to do.

I've learned that friends can turn on you for little reason and strangers can comfort you.

I've learned that I didn't know how to eat healthy until about 15 years ago.

I've learned that this planet is a pretty small place.

I've learned you get a different perspective of the U.S. when living in another country.

I've learned that as I became older, I became infinitely more tolerant of the differences in people and lifestyles than when I was a young southern yahoo.

I've learned though extensive world travel that people are pretty much the same all over regarding what they want out of life.

I've learned that jealously and envy are more common in people than I used to believe.

I've learned that few men in their forties are immune to falling in love with a younger women and wrecking their marriage.

I've learned re the above, that when the romance cools with the other, your wife is who you should really be with.

I've learned that I really did choose the right wife after all.

I've learned that it's not important to know how to achieve a goal first as long as you know how to arrive at a goal and reach it.

I've learned that when one's curiosity about all things dies down, it's like a candle burning out. So if you are lucky and born with this gift, keep the candle burning.

I've learned that enjoying the trip along the way is just as much fun as arriving at your destination.

I've learned that you can be self directed and not have to go with the herd or go with the flow.

I've leaned that the majority of people are born, live and die within fifty miles of their birthplace.

I've learned to take other people's slights without getting upset.

I've learned that in politics and religion, facts mean nothing and emotion means everything.

I've learned that memories and experiences are the wallet of an older guy and you needed to have filled this wallet to have a boundless spirit in old age.

I've learned not to worry about old age as it doesn't last very long.

I've learned that one's formal education is but about 25% of your education and education is a life long endeavor.

I've learned that I still have a lot more to learn and more important, still have the spirit to learn more.

I've learned that typing was the most useful course I took in high school.

I've learned that free style writing is one of the most creative things you can do to keep your mind sharp and focused.

Bob White
September 30, 2010