The Man Who Told Me About the Fountain of Youth

I was approximately 50 years old at the time, living in a large condominium, with a 40-foot terrace overlooking Central Park, in New York City. I was working on creating “We Magazine,” a lifestyle consumer magazine for people with disabilities, when I met a doctor who, while examining me, told me he was 80 years old. He didn’t look a day over 60. I was so adamant about not believing him that he took out his wallet and showed me his driver’s license. Here’s what he said, word for word…

“Yes, I am 80 years old, and I work 75 hours a week between my office hours and my surgery schedule. But as soon as my body tells me it’s getting tired, I have my secretary clear my calendar for five days, and I take a short vacation.”

A lot of people would just keep working and get over-tired, and they do harm to every organ in their body. It builds and builds slowly over time until something reaches a breaking point in the form of cancer or heart attacks or arthritis, or something else.

So, if you have a job and start to feel tired, take a Friday and Monday off, and enjoy a 4-day weekend to recover before you get burnt out. If you are doing the laundry or mowing the lawn, take an hour or two break. It’s worth it, and you’ll live longer.

Be smart! Don’t be stupid! It’s not worth it. Take a nap for an hour. Take a walk. Play with your kids. The grass and laundry will still be there tomorrow. Remember this statement always: The second a flower stops growing, it begins to die; and the second we stop learning, we begin to die. BE PROUD OF THE NEW YOU NO MATTER HOW OLD YOU ARE! I’m 79 years old and just beginning to learn. The world is your Oyster.

SWEET ANGEL

Be careful sweet angel I implore thee, as you find your way along your journey, as you search for what you need to find, be careful sweet angel for you were born amidst a suffering world that long ago denied its very own pain.

Hydras of contempt were conceived from this denial, a fear of all things mysterious was born, an eruption of projection grew in powerful circles, and the likes of you and those like you, so different in your spontaneity and joy, became inconsequential to their pronouncements.

A darkness intruded with few taking note, wings like yours cursed their routines, your insight made them look upon themselves, their reactions drew dire consequences until even the fundamental ideas you hold sacred were boxed within vaults hidden well beneath the surface.

Be aware of your limitations here for you cannot compete with the bottom tier where smiles and handshakes of sand change with expedient waves, political correctness is the only norm, and the value is the value of winning at any cost.

Such heaviness and possessions impede upon the bliss within your heart, few can hear the melody of your voice, the golden keys you hold cannot unlock the chains of an archaic testament and a fearful exactitude.

Be careful sweet angel I implore thee, for here past and future deny present, confusion is everywhere, the Pharaohs of Egypt who abhorred change still reign, within these vacuums you cannot fly, and the falcon and falconers stand ready and armed to imprison your glory.