A close friend of mine turned sixty last month. She seemed a bit melancholy , introspective, and apprehensive as she reflected on reaching this personal milestone.   Having reached that milestone myself several years ago, I thought it appropriate that I offer some words of wisdom and encouragement. What follows is a letter that I emailed to her:

                                                                                                                                                     

Sixty is the age where you realize that you've been here longer than you have time left....It's that time of life when you come to understand that you can't win, you can't break even, and you can't get out of the game...All you can do is try to put some more points on the board before the clock runs out....

                                                                                                                                                      

What you do for yourself in life leaves when you do...What you do for others lives on after you're gone...What you do for the children and young people is immortal....Just remember that you're scoring points every day that you wake up caring for and about others, especially and in particular, the children in your life who will be your legacy to the world and the future....

                                                                                                                                                       

You may not see it now, but there will be a good deal of "Grand Ma's" or "Nanna's" principles and values in generations of your descendents yet to come....So, when they look at you like you're from another universe, just smile to yourself knowing that you'll be there in spirit when it's their turn to make the rough places smooth and the crooked places straight for some little people who refuse to act like they can appreciate anything at all....

                                                                                                                                                       

And, by the way, there's absolutely nothing wrong with taking time to yourself, for yourself....It's the only real way to keep fuel in the lamp that you carry which lights the way for the young ones who still need to have the path of  righteousness lit up and marked for them until they become mature enough, and strong enough, to walk that path and carry that lamp on their own....

                                                                                                                                                      

Meantime, for your sake, and the sake of the children you care for and about, your primary job is to stay well and healthy of body, mind, and spirit....

                                                                                                                                                        

Remember this also, I love you at least as much as you love me....