Old Age is a Gift

(From: Arv Hardin )

I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometime despair over my body, the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the sagging butt. And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror (who looks like my mother/ father!), but I don't agonize over those things for long.

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become more kind to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend.

I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the compu ter until 4 AM and sleep until noon?

I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60 & 70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love .. I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set. They, too, will get old.

I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things..

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength, understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.

So, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day. (If I feel like it).

MAY OUR FRIENDSHIP NEVER COME APART ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART!

MAY YOU ALWAYS HAVE A RAINBOW OF SMILES ON YOUR FACE AND IN YOUR HEART FOREVER AND EVER!

It Was a Very Good Year

20 Truths to Remember

1. Faith is the ability to not panic.

2. If you worry, you didn't pray. If you pray, don't worry.

3. As a child of God, prayer is kind of like calling home every day.

4. Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.

5. When we get tangled up in our problems, be still.God wants us to be still so He can untangle the knot.

6. Do the math. Count your blessings.

7. God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.

8. Dear God: I have a problem. It's me.

9. Silence is often misinterpreted, but never misquoted.

10. Laugh every day, it's like inner jogging.

11. The most important things in your home are the people.

12. Growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional.

13. There is no key to happiness. The door is always open.

14. A grudge is a heavy thing to carry.

15. He who dies with the most toys is still dead.

16. We do not remember days, but moments. Life moves

too fast, so enjoy your precious moments.

17. Nothing is real to you until you experience it, otherwise it's just hearsay.

18. It's all right to sit on your pity pot every now and again. Just be sure to flush when you are done.

19. Surviving and living your life successfully requires courage. The goals and dreams you're seeking require courage and risk-taking. Learn from the turtle -- it only makes progress when it sticks out its neck.

20. Be more concerned with your character than your reputation. Your character is what you really are while your reputation is merely what others think you are.

Lord, You Are So Precious To Me

When I'm Sixty-Four

OK hari ini tgl 8/8/8. Jadi 64 yang 8 x 8 adalah usia yang patut diperhatikan oleh para isteri agar tetap menyayangi suaminya (dan sebaliknya tentunya.). Selamat bagi yang ber ulang tahun ke 64 hari ini. GBU all.

Arti Ulang Tahun

Sedikit intermesso tentang makna ibadah ulang tahun :

.




Orang umumnya berkata syukur kepada Tuhan karena telah diberi pertambahan usia setahun lagi. Memang dari segi pertumbuhan kehidupan, benar kita meningkat lagi setahun, namun disisi lain, sesungguhnya kita berkurang setahun dalam 'jatah' sisa kehidupan kita. Boleh juga kalau kita katakan kita semakin dekat setahun lagi menjelang perjumpaan dengan Tuhan YME, yang Pemberi Kehidupan itu. Bahkan ada yang berkata seorang akan bertambah usianya hingga menjelang 35 tahun dan sesudah itu akan berkuranglah sisa usianya. Ini mungkin karena harapan hidup orang sekitar 70 tahun dan sesudah separuh jalan maka orang hanya menunggu sisa umur yang menjadi 'jatah'nya itu.



Usia 35-40 tahun menjadi benchmark sebelum seseorang mengalami kemerosotan fungsi baik fisik maupun mental. Jadi jangan cepat malas berpikir, mau yang gampang aja dalam segala hal. Juga jangan cepat capek, baru olahraga sedikit, sudah mau istirahat aja. So keep on moving and think ! Always move and think !! But you must enjoy doing that. Good luck !

A Smile from God

One in a million shot.



(from Arief Tjahjono email)

How Old Am I ?

How old am I?, I'm old enough to know
The difference between infatuation
And a love that has a chance to grow

How old am I?, I'm not too old to hear
The sweet ring of truth and understanding
When the words "I love you" reach my ear

Don't mind these lines beneath my eyes, they're well-earned souvenirs
Of a thousand nights of laughter and occasional tears
And I hope you won't be jealous of the silver in my hair
It took many lover's quarrels to put it there

How old am I?, you kiss me and I'm young
Love's a road never traveled, life's a song I've never sung
If I make you happy today, I'm the perfect age
As for tomorrow turn the page

Ticket to Ride

Hari ini kita ber nostalgia dulu dengan musik 60an dari the Fab Four.

8 Tipe Manusia

1. Bagi MANUSIA UANG,
waktu adalah uang, sakit dan istirahat adalah siksaan.
2. Bagi MANUSIA KUASA,
bawahan adalah tongkat kewibawaannya, disembah adalah mahkota kebanggaannya, tak dihargai adalah nerakanya.
3. Bagi MANUSIA KERJA,
duduk dan waktu luang adalah sengatan-sengatan lebah dan ketonggeng, doa adalah lelucon yg tidak lucu, dan pemborosan energi!
4. Bagi MANUSIA SENI,
keindahan yg ia lihat adalah pintu surga,keindahan yg ia ciptakan adalah Firdaus,cinta murni adalah hidup kekal.
5. Bagi MANUSIA PIKIR,
otak adalah modal,ilmu adalah keuntungannya,bercinta adalah dagelan sekedar;memandang rendah tiap orang di bawahnya adalah hal biasa dan normal baginya.
6. Bagi MANUSIA KARAKTER,
kemerdekaan adalah tempat tinggalnya, keadilan adalah santapannya, kebijaksanaan dan kesucian adalah pakaian dan perhiasannya.
7. Bagi MANUSIA MISTIK,
pertumbuhan pohon dan pemekaran bunga adalah juga perkembangannya yang segar;
langit adalah rentangannya; luas bumi dan lautannya adalah jiwanya dan misterinya;
tiap orang adalah dia; dosa dunia adalah dosanya juga.
8. Bagi MANUSIA KASIH,
mengasihi adalah pernafasannya, orang kecil dan tersisih adalah kesayangannya, memberi dan melayani adalah surganya.
Termasuk yang manakah ANDA ??
(oleh: Rm Pius Budiwijaya OCSO)

Jesus knocks

Open your heart to Jesus today.