The vintage Buick pulled into the parking stall next to mine. As I watched it all from inside the beauty salon where I was having my hair cut, I was intrigued. It looked like the car pulled in all by itself. There did not seem to be a driver. I could not take my eyes off the scene happening before my eyes.
It seemed like an eternity passed, but finally the car door began to slowly open. And then I saw her. Immediately I noticed the radiant smile on her face. It was contagious.
When she opened the door to the salon it was like a breath of fresh air entered the room. Her bubbly personality turned the heads of everyone inside. As I sat there listening to her, I was inspired by her enthusiasm or life.
Everyone in the room seemed to know her. Eventually I heard someone mention her name. GRACE, how perfect!
In the next few minutes I realized that GRACE was 90 years old. It was evident not only by her words, but by her movements and actions that GRACE was filled with a zest for life. She lived each minute to the fullest. It did not matter to her how old she was, she would dream and take chances, let go of the rope, and believe she could do anything that she set her mind to.
Instantly I was filled with a deep desire to cling to every word she said. I longed to hear her story of how the pieces of her life all fit together. The incredible story of “It's never to late to try!” was so exciting.
She shared an amazing story that happened when she was 70 years old. She had always wanted to be a clown. So once she set her mind to it, she began to take actions to make it all happen.
The first thing she did was check out the local community college to find out if there were indeed, “clown classes”. She found one, took it, and soon was wearing the costume of a clown. I would have loved to see her all dressed up and spreading her sunshine all around.
She inspired me to wake up and smell the roses. It's never too late to try. Your attitude is what life is all about. If you live your life with a “can do” attitude, there is nothing you cannot do.
The day I left that salon, I was filled with a desire to find out more about Grace. I longed to learn from her life, how to live mine to the fullest.
One day I was privileged to have Grace come to my office and share the pieces of her life with me. It was an amazing honor.
I asked Grace, “What would you like to share with others about living their lives? Her response did not surprise me. She challenged me to:
✔ Keep active
✔ Keep working at what you enjoy.
✔ Keep meeting together with others.
✔ Keep volunteering to make a difference in our world.
Who would have guessed that morning when I woke up and went to get my hair cut, that I come home inspired to live my life to the fullest. It's never to late to follow your dreams and passions.
Here's poem that I wrote in honor Grace.
Passion for Life
A woman who has a passion for life, is rare in our world today,
“Take each day as a blessing!” is what she might say.
Never looking back on the mistakes of her past,
Just living each day in a way that will last.
Age is never a factor in living out her dreams,
At seventy years old, in a clown outfit she was seen.
It didn’t just happen; she had to go to school,
The desire to work hard was her most important tool.
Inspiring those around her as her passion shines through,
Telling others to enjoy their lives is all she wants to do.
Turning the negative upside down is how she lives each day,
Growing to be like this woman is how I want to pray.
Thank you for being a passionate woman of GRACE,
Whose presence came alive in a very simple place.
Each one who gathered the day we first met,
Will remember her words, in our hearts they are set.
