Growing old and Growing up.

Okay… so I don’t like growing up. It’s a fact. Well… tell me one person who likes it anyways … 😛 🙂

Show me a person who says, “Growing old makes me very happy!”

Growing old is not in our control but ‘growing up’ is. I really like parents who spend a lot of time with their kids. I saw a picture of a lady who dressed up on halloween along with her daughter so that both of them could have fun. Shall we say that the mom has not grown up? She is acting too young for her age? Can we not appreciate the fact that she has given up all inhibitions, just to keep her daughter happy?

Of course, other people might laugh at her but those people might laugh at her grown up acts too!

Have you ever wondered why children learn things so quickly? A kid imitates others and can even pick up different languages very quickly. The same kid after turning into an adult may have difficulty learning a new language.

In order to learn, you need to have the heart of a child and the brain of an adult. A heart that is open to learning new things, a heart that is ready to experiment, explore…break things, make things and not get disappointed or disheartened.
At the same time, you need to have a brain of an adult to interpret things, process them and save some in your memory.

Kids tend to forget things easily. We do not remember everything from our childhood. However, as adults, we can retain and process information.

Albert Einstein said : “Never memorize something that you can look up!”

Now imagine, if you could explore life and take note of every good thing you came across – a unique flower, a different kind of bird, a new language, an artistic creation, a beautiful poem, a difficult word, a new place, some beautiful clouds, a beautiful rainbow, unique architecture, beautiful handicrafts….. and so on… and if you could save those little memories somewhere…in a book, a diary, a journal or in your mind…. Wouldn’t you be proud of your collection? Proud of what all you have learned and discovered? It’s not that hard… if you find time to do it…!

In order to be open to discovery, you have to be willing to learn like a child. Life is very large and you can never grow up to be larger than life! You will always remain a small little tiny winy particle on earth.

You will grow up…and will have to understand the complications of life — troubles, quarrels, ego issues, money matters, sorrows, stresses, weaknesses, career, politics, responsibilities…..but in your heart… remain a child who wants to learn…and explore….beyond these imperfections…

Join an MBA program or a painting class or a hobby… Do something that you like…something you’ll be proud of later in your life….

Growing up means you stop believing in fairies and miracles and the little joys of life.
I still do….so I don’t grow up! 🙂

Here’s a quote from Walt Disney…. “Why do we have to grow up? I know more adults who have the children’s approach to life. They’re people who don’t give a hang what the Joneses do. You see them at Disneyland every time you go there. They are not afraid to be delighted with simple pleasures, and they have a degree of contentment with what life has brought – sometimes it isn’t much either.” – Walt Disney”

Health is more important than wealth….

There is a famous english proverb: “Health is Wealth”. However, I now believe that “Health is more important than wealth”.
Its easier to regain “wealth” after losing it. However, it may not be so easy to regain back health.

How much importance do we give to health in our lives?
Do we tell little children how important health is right from the beginning? Do we make them understand?  Are there any special courses designed to explain the importance of health?

As an adult, I think I still don’t understand the importance of health at times, or fail to realize or “accept” it. I get tempted to eat chocolates, brownies, junk foods, although I know they may not be the healthiest foods.

It is important to consciously tell yourself what is healthy and what is not.Its not easy but its essential. I wish we all focused on health(physical and mental) and not wealth.

Imagine if parents told their kids that…
“Until the age of 25, you have to earn as much good health as you can.
From age 25-40 try to maintain good health levels…
From age 40-55 ensure that you take extra care…
Age 55 and after, try to remain as happy as you can…”
AND
“Take out time to exercise throughout your life.”

Can “maintaining good health” become a culture? Would people start appreciating other people based on how healthy they are, and not how wealthy they are?

I wonder…..

It is important for every individual to bring the health discipline in his/her life.
Not next week, not tomorrow, but TODAY -> RIGHT NOW.