This story is dedicated to those of us who have come to the age/stage in life that means changes and adjustments in living location and life style; the revision of old and the greeting of new routines; along with making new friendships (while relishing the old)--and, just plain MAKING A LIFE CHANGE because it is time to do so.  May the Lord bless and guide all who are at this stage to joyfully welcome and accept “each new day as His gift.”

The author of this story is unknown.

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A 92-year-old delicate but well-poised and proud man, who was fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock with his hair fashionably coifed and his face shaved perfectly--and legally blind-- moved to a nursing home.

His wife of seventy years had recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when I told him his room was ready.

It was my job to introduce him to his new living accommodations. As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window. "I love it," he stated, with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.

"Mr. Jones, you haven't 'seen' the room; just wait."

"That doesn't have anything to do with it," he replied. "Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged ... it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it."  

"It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do. Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away--just for this time in my life."

"Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in. So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories!"

"I thank all those who were a  part in filling my Memory bank--and, I am still depositing."

Remember these five simple rules to be happy:

1. Free your heart from hatred
2. Free your mind from worries
3. Live simply
4. Give more
5. Expect less

ATTITUDE ON LIFE  - Dr. Charles Swindoll

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.

It is more important than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than whatever anyone might say or do.

It is more important than appearances, giftedness or skill.

The remarkable thing is that we have the choice to create the attitude we have for that day.

We cannot change our past. We cannot change the way people act. We cannot change the inevitable.

The one thing we can change is the only thing we have control over, and that is our attitude.

I am convinced that life is 10% what actually happens to us and 90% how we react to it.

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Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8 ESV

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24 ESV 

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 ESV 

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