JOY-CAFE.COM JoyBlog

On the Joy-Cafe website, this link will take you to the lyrics in case you don’t know or don’t remember them.  Since I’m a swing and jazz music aficionado, I love all these older songs. 

So here’s the deal.  I am working on finishing the Deckless book this week.  While doing some research, I came across this statement: “New adventures await everyone, regardless of age.”

Did you get that?  New adventures!  Regardless of age! That actually fits with a statement I have adopted for Deckless:  “It’s never too late to be who you want to be!”

I know people who are preparing to die in their 50’s.  It is a bit disconcerting to me because I know that, at worst people can live another 20 years and at best, into their 100’s living a good life.  And even if you retire from a particular job, your attitude doesn’t have to be that “IT’S OVER.” 

I remember thinking that when I turned 30, life was over.  Toward that very end of the age of 29, many people get depressed and decide life will stink from that point forward.  Then for sure life is over at 40.  Everything will begin to go downhill according to the statistics, magazines, and experts.  It was all over except the dying.

I had a friend confess to me, “I’m getting sooooo old and I just can’t move like I used to” when she turned 35.  It is as if life is only good and exciting in our teens and 20’s.  OH HECK NO!  I remember those ages and I am here to tell you, I wouldn’t go back to those ages for any amount of money.

I mean, it’s wonderful on both ends.  Sure, most of us enjoyed our 20’s and as we age, realize how awesome life is after 40.  In truth, life will only get better if we let it and truly enjoy each age!

I didn’t meet my KISA* until I was in my early 40’s.  That’s why I like the song’s first line, “Fairy tales can come true – it can happen to you – if you’re young at heart!”  This has proven to be very true in my life.

It is all a matter of perspective.  It really is all in your attitude.  If you think you are old, you are - no matter what age that is.  At the age of 35, my friend became old and has only gotten older.  If you will attack life and delight in all it has to offer you, you will look at things differently.

Oh, I can hear it now:  “Nan, you just don’t know how I feel or what I’ve been through.”  Sure, that’s true – but you don’t know anything about me, either!  We can all swap horror stories, or we can chose to get over it and move on.

After marrying in my 40’s, I made a decision that I was going to look at life as a gift to savor and enjoy to the maximum.  Life is just too short to do anything less.  I was just starting out on this fabulous journey with my man and I sure wasn’t going to prepare to die, retire from life or get old!  My KISA and I do everything possible to live long and strong.  We work out, eat right, drink plenty of water, and take our supplements. 

I am having such a riot!  My life is truly joyous – and it really is all a matter of perspective.  Specific things in my life may not have been or be perfect –but I am either working on them or learning how to deal without losing my joy.

Sometimes outer influences try to affect your focus.  Everything from debt to illness (whether yours or a family members) can come to steal your focus and joy.  Just plain don’t allow it to.  Your attitude is vital.

You know why?  Here’s the thing:  no amount of worry, stressing or fear is going to change your circumstances.  I don’t know of one person who had victory in their life after spending a maximum amount of time fretting.  You have the choice to choose life or to choose death, to choose joy or to choose unhappiness.  It really is all in your hands.

Is your life almost over or is your life just getting richer and better?   What do you wish you had done when you were younger?  WELL, DO IT NOW!  You are in a better position to do it right now!  No matter what age you are, if you really want to do something, NOW is the time.

Never stop growing, learning and stretching!  Never quit experimenting with new things and ideas.  Never, ever give up HOPE.  If you lose that “starry-eyed-anything-can-happen” attitude, you will settle into a ho-hum life, just waiting to die.

Dreams can come true.  It is a matter of attitude – if you’re young at heart!

FOLLOW YOUR JOY! 

*knight in shining armor