Al Smith

In a few weeks, I will be having another birthday. (Again??)

After doing this as many times as I have, I can just expect the annual bombardment of friends and family who will send cards, post to Facebook or send emails with such denigrating comments as:

“How can you tell that you are getting old? You go to an antique auction and three people bid on you.”

Or, “What goes up and never comes down? Your age.”

Here are more creations:

“Remember, too many birthdays could kill you.”

“You know you are old when you and your teeth don’t sleep together.”

“When getting lucky means you found your car in the parking lot.”

And finally: “You are not old — you are retro”

I can’t wait to be blessed with these annual nuggets of wisdom. At least maybe, since I have already used them, my friends may be forced to find other sources of generous inspiration.

Enough of that.

One of the people who helped shape my professional life was also one of America’s great radio disc jockeys named Chuck Dunaway. Recently he passed along some great advice as it relates to aging. I don’t know if he composed this or found it and just passed it along. But I thought it worthy enough to pass it along as well.

It goes like this:

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As we grow older, and hence, wiser, we slowly realize that wearing a $300 or $30 watch, they both tell the same time.

Whether we carry a $300 or $30 wallet/handbag, the amount of money inside is the same.

Whether we drink a bottle of $30 or $3 wine, the effect is the same.

Whether the house we live in is 3,000 or 300 square feet, the loneliness is the same.

Hopefully, one day we will realize our true inner happiness does not come from the material things of this world.

Whether you fly first or economy class, if the plane goes down, you go down with it.

Therefore, I hope you realize that when you have mates, buddies and old friends, brothers and sisters who you chat with, laugh with, talk with, sing songs with, talk about north-south-east-west or heaven and earth — that is true happiness!!

Here are five Undeniable Facts of Life:

1. Don’t educate your children to be rich. Educate them to be happy. So when they grow up they will know the value of things, not the price.
2. Best words, “Eat your food as your medicines. Otherwise you have to eat medicines as your food”
3. The one who loves you will never leave you because even if there are 100 reasons to give up, they will find one reason to hold on.
4. There is a big difference between a human being and being human.  Only a few really understand it.
5. You are loved when you are born. You will be loved when you die. In between is what you have to manage.

If you just want to walk fast, walk alone! But if you want to walk far, walk together!!

The Six Best Doctors in the World

1. Sunlight
2. Rest
3. Exercise
4. Diet
5. Self confidence
6. Friends

Maintain them in all stages and enjoy a healthy life. Sent with smiles and affection, yours truly — JD.

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So Chuck, as I reach another milestone in life, thanks for continuing to shape it — even this many decades later.

 

Al Smith, former president and CEO of the Fresno Chamber of Commerce, serves as a leadership coach for local companies as part of the John C. Maxwell leadership-training program. For more information, contact Smith at alsmith@alsmithpartners.com.