This is a rough draft for a speech I am giving to a group of adults of the non spiirtual nature. I welcome your feed back. There is irony, some wit and some common sense.

1. And why we never stop learning 101

2.  I hadn’t heard this Polish quip until recently.
 There is too much drama in the world and if I am not
in the circus and my monkeys aren’t mine
I DON’T NEED TO BE INVOLVED IN THE CENTER
ARENA OF DRAMA.
Sometimes this is difficult but don’t act on others
expectations and don’t get involved in matters not our
own. Some people don’t want to change.

3.  My son is fully grown but I have learned while he is
never a finished product, neither am I.
 I now understand why we love grandchildren. We get
to do the things I thought might screw up my kid;
eating ice cream all day, not changing our underwear,
etc.
 My daughter in law is not my daughter and she will
help select my nursing home-I love her a lot.
 If you can keep them busy and exhausted through
high school-they will stay out of trouble. Or so I
thought.

4. I am one of the 10% of people who are SENSITIVE to
light, sounds, the environment, and peoples energies.
My whole like I have heard STOP BEING SO SENSITVE.
I have finally learned to reply IT WOULD BE NICER IF
YOU WERE A LITTLE MORE SENSTIVE.
My grand daughter is like me. I am trying to teach her
to cry on important issues and count backwards like
Peg and Cat when she is sensitive.

5. A think of beauty
that can kill with a
touch
Minnesota nice kills. It
is far easier to not
discuss our problems
and quarrels.
Over time those quarrels
can fester and disturb
the relationships we
have those we love.
Having the tough conversation
is better than living with misery and resent.

6.  SAY NO!!! There is an old saying ask the busiest
person you know to complete a task because they will
do it quickly and efficiently. I no longer need to be
that person.
 Not listen to evening news or internet stories about
starved animals and other heart wrenching stories.
Sometimes it leaves me feeling slightly hopeless.
 Not whine-really whine- to others. Save the whining
for really important things they may be able to help
with. Create a blog or whine in Facebook because
people can unfriend you or move on if they don’t want
to be part of your circus.

7.  I was a good college teacher and even got awards. I
really tried to listen to my adult student but realized I
couldn’t reach them, help some of them or they really
didn’t want the help. After years of teaching I burned
out and realized my job wasn’t to just teach, but to
listen and set the example.
 I worked in organ and tissue donation. Some days
after that job, I thought I couldn’t go on and
depression overcame me. After listening to the
parents of a deceased two year old talk about her, they
told me not to cry and that they did want their
daughter’s eyes to go to some one else so they could
see. That was courage.

8.  I realized the other day I had colored
my hair, worn high heels and panty
hose and applied make up since 1968.
 Now my legs rarely see the light of day,
the razor is less used and I apply
makeup for me, not for someone else.
 People don’t die if I don’t meet their
expectations.

9. Appreciation
 I was walking down
Hennepin avenue and
guys were wolf whistling at
the young women next to
me. I yelled to the guys
“Thank you!” The guy said,
“It wasn’t for you!” I said,
“How do you know?” The
young women laughed
and thanked me. Their
skirts were way too short.
 There I said it. No
one told me getting
old would be more
than a bad back and
fat. People now call
me maam and offer
me a seat on the
bus.
Gray eyebrown, ear and
nose hair

10.  Friendships and relationships
change over time- most people
don’t like change but it is not an
option.
Make new friends, but keep the old-
one is silver and the other gold.
Put the toxic lead friendships that
are weighing you down on the end
of a fishing line and cast it on its
way.
People will make time for you if you
are important to them. And they
won’t if you are not.
You will never
regret going
out of your
way to
brighten
someone’s day
or just saying
hello.
Friendships

11. Dating and getting old
 Ain’t for babies
 Has pluses and minuses
 I have a new appreciation
for vitamins and energy
drinks.
 Sleep is a gift and
awakening every
morning means I ain’t
pushing up daisies.
 Eye cream is wonderful.
 Sometimes I feel better
about myself and my life
after being on chat
rooms.
 Confidence is not
something you get; it is
something you earn and
have to keep building
on-especially when you
are wearing a Depends.
Social media

12. I unfortunately am no longer surprised at how some
people will exceed the lowest imaginable depth of
lying, incompetence and nastiness, while others will
reach out to help, and exude honesty, helpfulness and
compassion.
We need to teach our children taking care of others and
their money as we get older is not an option and the
government can’t afford to take care of everyone.
Mom’s money shouldn’t be paying for my trip to Vegas.
Children should celebrate Mother’s and Father’s Days as
it is one of the few times we get recognized.

13. I have enough to do living day by day. I decided
to not create another list of things I should
have/could have done.
I have created a list of things I am glad I DIDN’T
/won’t do! Take LSD, go to medical school, move
to LA, have bum implants, date Tom Cruise, sign
up for a yoga cruise, plan my funeral, become a
(bacon) vegetarian , become a super model,
become a monk, date a Kardashian, learn
rapping, love broccoli, vote for Hilary, etc.

14.  Change what you can
 Make good choices every day because you can’t take a
lot back.
 Chose who you want to be right now, particularly when
posed with a challenge or tough choice.
 Set a good example.
 Try not to screw up too much.
 Say you are sorry when you do mess up.
 Accept, embrace and celebrate change unless it makes
your back hurt.