Joke: 83-Year-Old Woman Writes a Letter to Her Friend

An octogenarian shared her views on life with a friend, and her insight is priceless.

Life isn't easy, we all know that. Every year it seems to get harder to make ends meet, or to face the challenges that life throws at us.

We rush through our days in the hope that tomorrow will be better. Do we forgo our todays in the hope of a future we will never see?

In our #storyoftheday, an octagenarian shared her insight into life and living it well - one precious day at a time.

THE SECRET TO LIVING A FULL LIFE

“Dear Bertha,

I’m reading more and dusting less. I’m sitting in the yard and admiring the view without fussing about the weeds in the garden.

I’m spending more time with my family and friends and less time working. Whenever possible, life should be a pattern of experiences to savor, not to endure.

I’m trying to recognize these moments now and cherish them. I’m not ‘saving’ anything; we use our good china and crystal for every special event such as losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped, or the first Amaryllis blossom.

MAKE "SOMEDAY" YOUR TODAY

I wear my good blazer to the market. My theory is if I look prosperous, I can shell out $28.49 for one small bag of groceries.

I’m not saving my good perfume for special parties, but wearing it for clerks in the hardware store and tellers at the bank.

‘Someday’ and ‘one of these days’ are losing their grip on my vocabulary. If it’s worth seeing or hearing or doing, I want to see and hear and do it now.

NEVER TAKE LOVED ONES FOR GRANTED

I’m not sure what others would’ve done had they known they wouldn’t be here for the tomorrow that we all take for granted. I think they would have called family members and a few close friends.

They might have called a few former friends to apologize and mend fences for past squabbles. I like to think they would have gone out for a Chinese dinner or for whatever their favorite food was. I’m guessing; I’ll never know.

NEVER STOP SAYING "I LOVE YOU"

It's those little things left undone that would make me angry if I knew my hours were limited. Angry because I hadn’t written certain letters that I intended to write one of these days. Angry and sorry, that I didn’t tell my husband and parents often enough how much I truly love them.

LIVE EVERY DAY AS A SPECIAL GIFT

I’m trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save anything that would add laughter and luster to our lives. And every morning when I open my eyes, I tell myself that it is special. Every day, every minute, every breath truly is a gift.

"Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance.”

So pour yourself that celebratory glass of champagne, put on some music and dance.

In a related story, a young woman discovers that the path to true happiness sometimes takes unexpected detours - but always lead to a good heart.