Motivation: It's Never Too Late To Learn

The first day of college, our professor challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder.

I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming at me. She said, "Hi, my name is Rose. I'm 87 years old. Can I give you a hug?" I laughed and responded, "Of course you may!" and she gave me a giant squeeze.

"Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?" I asked. She jokingly replied, "I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, have a couple of children, and then retire and travel."

"No seriously," I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age. "I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!" she told me.

We became instant friends. I was always mesmerised listening to this "time machine" as she shared her wisdom and experience with me. Over the year, Rose became a campus icon and easily made friends wherever she went. She revelled in the attention bestowed upon her by the other students. She was living it up.

At the end of the semester, we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us. She said: "We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing."

"There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy and achieving success. "You have to laugh and find humour every day. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it!"

"There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are 19 years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn 20 years old. If I am 87 years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything, I will turn 88. Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding the opportunity in change."

"Have no regrets. The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets."

At year's end, Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago. One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep.

Over 2000 college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all that you can possible.

Adapted from: All Day Inspiration and Motivation at http://www.inspireme.net/inspirational-stories/dreams.htm