Columnist: You’re not too old for that!!

Published 12:00 am Saturday, July 11, 2015

Jerry Johnson

Contributing columnist

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I hear so many people say, “I am just too old to try that.” In contrast, think about these people: Charlie Watts is 74 and still playing for the Rolling Stones.

Dick Richards of Bill Haley and His Comets is still touring at 91.

Stuntman Gene LeBell is still doing stunts in Hollywood at 82.

Drag racing still has a winner in Bunny Burkett who is 70.

Every year there is someone finishing medical school that is over 50 years of age. I love to read about older people still doing great things.

Why do I bring this up? I work with a lot of smart older people that are still buying investment rentals and are over 70 looking forward to making their money grow. I am suggesting that if you’re over 60 years of age get and keep passion in your life, with the great medical doctors we have now and the new medicine coming out each year, more and more of us will live past age 100 – so why not have fun.

My mom is 91 and sharp as a tack. She picked blueberries with me for 90 minutes and only stopped then because I thought the sun was too hot on her. I see people who are 84 years old riding horses as if they were 30 years of age.

What I hope I am getting across is that you need to work on your mind. First decide that you want to have a good time or that you want to keep working. You must stay young at heart.

Keep your mind growing and be with other people that enjoy life. Yes, enjoy life!

We had dinner with a couple last night that was 77. We laughed and had so much fun, plus they had prepared a great dinner for us. No one can do this for you, it is a personal choice for you to enjoy life and have fun for the remainder of your years.

I know health will have a lot to do with what you can do. BUT if your excuse is that you “have to watch TV 14 hours a day so you do not have time to walk and keep in shape,” then one excuse is as good as another. Take the word “try” out of what you say – just go get it done.

Yes, I love to read about some young person that does great things! I also like to read about older people that do wonderful things. If you’re one of them, let me know.

Why do I write this? My challenge to each of you is to take better care of yourself because who knows, you may have more fun longer.

“He who wishes to secure the good of others has already secured his own.” — Confucius

Just a thought — you’re now older and do not want to work. Why not be a mentor to some younger people? Share the great things you know how to do!

Many young people would love to learn to shoot a bow, fly fish, grow a beautiful rose or sew a dress. Yes, you have some skills that you could have fun teaching someone else.

Life is so much fun, whether working or playing, if you let it be.

“As I grow older I pay less attention to what men say. I just watch what they do.” — Andrew Carnegie

Jerry Johnson is president of First Realty of LaGrange.