Finding The Fountain Of Youth

Several years ago I asked a friend whether his father was looking forward to retirement. "Not really," he replied with some concern. "His life has revolved around his job, and age 64 is a little late to take up fishing." The father, an influential executive, died shortly after retirement. Why? Perhaps because he didn't have anything of real interest to look forward to.

Having something important to do is vital to health and well being. And the definition of importance may change with time. Consider this letter from a mother who had been her son's teacher all through school.

"It's such a pretty day, and I'm sad. For so many years my son would open the windows and say, 'It's a gorgeous fall day.' We would sit by the window and have school. Or even better, we would sit in the porch swing and do math. It seemed as if that time would last forever. Sometimes I looked forward to a time when school stuff would not be there anymore.

"Today he said, 'It's a gorgeous fall day.' 'Well, open the window,' I replied, and was suddenly hit with the full realization that I no longer have a little boy to sit beside me for school. He had big plans to go and work for someone, and I knew that I could not hold him back.

"A whole lifetime has gone by, and I am now someone else. And he is someone else. So here I sit with nothing really important to do. I have things to do, but no important things with a bright-eyed little fella. I never knew it would be this sad."

Changing circumstances may require taking a hard look at what's really important.

And on the other end of the scale, I have a note written to my wife from Mrs. Hattie Nelson. Well into her eighties at the time, she worked with our retarded daughter Jenny before poor health forced her retirement.

"I thank you for being so nice to bring those little dresses for Jenny. I love so much to take her with me. When I get her fixed up, she looks like a little doll. You don't know how I do love her. My prayer is that I will stay able to work as long as Jenny is there. Those aides can tell you how crazy I am about her. I can't tell you all in words how much I thank you for the picture and the valentine. It is so nice of you, and I love little Jenny so much."

We're grateful that Mrs. Nelson had found something important to do. Others have as well. At 87, my father still grafts trees, grows splendid tomatoes, and stalks the squirrel woods. At age 65, friend Foy Brown has enrolled in Spanish classes and helps with the census. I should follow their lead and look for something important to do each day. It is the fountain of youth.

Copyright 1999 James McAlister

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