Growing Up, Growing Old

A heart-warming email arrived this morn from a newly-found friend, Mr S.H. Tan which I must share with fellow Malaysians, maybe to lighten up some Monday blues? He kindly forwarded the story of a Lovely Rose who gave some useful tips on the desiderata of happiness.

But prefacing the story of Rose (have patience, eh, it's a virtue, remember?), I just briefly share some of Tan's observations, that our society has seen a deterioration of social graces. People do not readily say "Thank you" for a favour or service rendered, children nowadays do not show respect to their elders, not finding time to greet visitors with a "Good morning" and a warm smile, but whose fault is it really?

Tan's lament -- which I share indeed -- that some parents push their children to get ahead of their peers, no matter what the means or the costs. Many adults have succumbed to the culture of Form Over Substance (Gaya mesti mahu!), and show scant regard to respect for their fellow humankind, animals, and the environment. Yes, even our Prime Minister has lamented on many occasions that the country boasts First World infrastructure, but the people still show Third World mentality.

Now back to the Rose story: SH's daugher-on-campus in New Zealand has forwarded a first-person account of a lady, who was introduced by the Professor to the school one day. When the storyteller -- a young lad maybe in his 20s? -- asked of Miss Rose, a wrinkled, little old lady of spritely age 87, with a beaming smile that shone through her whole person, why she was there, "at such a young, innocent age".
With the same wit of the enquirer, she jovially replied that she wanted "to meet a rich man, get married and have a couple of kids!"

Well, in a more serious vein, Rose said: "I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!"

Rose and the tale-er became instant friends, with her sharing nuggets of wisdom and zest for life with many newfound friends.I nevitably, she soon became an icon on campus. One day she was invited to address a football banquet.

Midway through her speech, Rose dropped her three by five cards (cue cards with pointers for a prepared speech, remember?) and she just said she had kept off the daily "pint" as it was Lent, and now she was jittery without the stabiliser, guess she would just have to tell it as best she could.

Her message basically was that growing old was easy, it did not require talent. It's growing up
that's everybody's challenge. Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional. Rose said the idea was to grow up by "always finding opportunity in change".

Desiderata.happiness

On her inclination towards living it up, Rose said: "We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing."

Her four secrets to staying young -- being happy, desire to achieve success, having a sense of humour, and having a dream.

Her finale at the dinner was to entertain her young audience with "The Rose"; she challenged them to also learn the lyrics and live the spirit of the song.

I excerpted this from The Rose, by Bette Midler, hope it's the right track:

It's the heart, afraid of breaking,
That never learns to dance.
It's the dream, afraid of waking,
That never takes a chance.

Rose seized all opportunities to grow up and she never had regrets. She lived life to the fullest.
She dared to dream. She graduated at year's end, as the storyteller related. Soon after, little Rose passed on, and some 2,000 students attended her funeral to bid farewell, but Rose's spirit lived in all the hearts she generously gave a bit of herself.

Let's give Rose a Wow&Bow, at 87-young and her youthful spirit shining ever bright. Terima kasih to SH and Ms Tan for sharing, heart-to-heart.

PS: For the original account of The Story of a Rose, log onto: www.mybuddies.net; Enjoy!