Aging

Post 125 The older the fiddler, the sweeter the tune

A witty, knowledgeable and still lively 80-year-old woman was requested to give a short speech at a get-together function which I was glad I attended. She told the crowd roaring with laughter that she did not agree with the previous man speaker who told the audience on how to live long by avoiding all the” Don’ts” like smoking, drinking, and staying up late. She jokingly said that she did just the opposite to enjoy life. She added that she still went dancing! Though her tune sounded sweet and hilarious, the audience just took what she said with a pinch of salt.

While ‘age’ is just a word, ‘aging’ may be is more than that. It is an alarm clock to many who fear growing old. The proverb of “The older the fiddler, the sweeter the tune” is for the optimists who are not too concerned about their outward appearance wasting away. Inwardly they are renewed every day. Life is what one thinks it is and so is aging. When one does not mind getting old, aging does not matter anymore. One ought to live happily every day and deem ‘aging’ gracefully as a better alternative to kicking the bucket.

Young people will do well by being pro-active in doing exercises, inculcate good habits in eating, and avoid stress and strain through having optimistic outlook on life. This will help them to have good health even in old age.

The greatest wealth, for both the young and the old, is health.

3 January 2012