A Very Full Life

This old man said to his wife, “I just saw myself naked in the mirror, and I look horrible. Tell me something good about myself to lift my spirits.” The wife says, “Well, at least you still have good eyes.”

All three of my boys have a few grey hairs. Realizing that I have children with any grey hair stopped me in my tracks. How is this possible? My wife reminds me that her family turned grey in their 20s. That’s true, but having kids with grey hair makes me ponder my age. 

At seventy-two, a bit more than periodically, I calculate how much time I still have left up top. If I genuinely contemplate, that number hits me like a Bavarian Cream pie smack in the puss. Just a blink back in time, I told my boys to hold my hand when we crossed the street and stop their scooters at the alley. I’m grateful for having had that time. The good news is that I am reliving it with my grandchildren in many ways. 

I have reached an age where almost all my friends are entirely grey (myself not included), and some are full-blown whiteheads. Most of my friends (myself included) have at least some aches and pains and have had or are having major or minor surgeries. And sorry to say, some of our loved ones are sometimes quickly and sometimes slowly being towed away. Some because they refuse to read the writing on the wall. So many of us believe we still have time to get to it. Good luck with that dead-end thinking. And I mean Dead End. The time is now. And some do everything right, and for them, it’s just because….

Recently, I went to a 98th birthday party for my dear friend George Stanley. George was 98 on April 14th, 2024.  His wife Sandra is a mere 86. At least a half dozen other 90-year-olds or close to it were at the party. When George gave his birthday speech, he said, “Turning 98 is great, but it’s the only thing I can still turn. As a soldier in WWII, I used to jump out of airplanes. Now, at 98, I can’t even jump to conclusions.” George loves to laugh and make others laugh. He’s good at it. 

Going to a party for a 98-year-old was not depressing but incredibly uplifting. Sure, there were lots of diapers and Ensure jokes. Sure, many had eyeglasses as thick as coke bottles and crumbling bodies. You know what, though? They still showed up. They were still participating in life. They have not given up. They still celebrated a friend. This group rang every ounce of life out of whatever time they had left.

Here are a few of George’s rules for a long life:

1. Most importantly, don’t die. Dying throws a clinker into this whole thing.

2. Stay socially engaged to maintain mental and emotional well-being; isolation can lead to depression and cognitive decline. George talks to dozens of people a week on the phone. And if he hasn’t heard from you, he will call. 

3. If your faculties are impaired, avoid activities that could result in falls or injuries, such as climbing ladders or driving and riding unicycles while texting. If you think you’re still 20, watch people in their twenties playing tennis.  

4. If possible, have someone like Sandra (his wife) in your life. Sandra is why he is still here and a big part of why he wants to wake up daily. If your spouse is gone, a close friend can also do it.

5. And, of course, Rule 62: don’t take yourself too seriously. You must know when to be serious and when to have fun.

6. Never get wonder-full but remain full of wonder.

George is a living example of how to be grateful for today’s gift. He’s taught me yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never come. Today I have work to do. Today, I have friends to call. Today, I must do God’s work. 

George is a living example of how to be grateful for today’s gift. He’s taught me yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never come. Today I have work to do. Today, I have friends to call. Today, I must do God’s work. Today, I must be of service. Not only does George have an entire life, but he also helps fill my life and dozens of others’ lives.

Mark Schiff is a comedian, actor and writer, and hosts, along with Danny Lobell, the “We Think It’s Funny” podcast. His new book is “Why Not? Lessons on Comedy, Courage and Chutzpah.”