Laugh More Bitch Less

Those who love deeply never grow old. They may die of old age, but they die young.
Ben Franklin

You can't help getting older, but you don't have to get old.
George Burns

by Skip Cohen

​Remember, it's Sunday, and I never talk about business when I sit down to write Sunday Morning Reflections. I also never know where my thoughts are going to take me. I woke up creaking a little more than usual and started to write something sarcastic about aging, but I got bored with the topic almost immediately. So I went off searching for a good quote, and those two above hit me. They both are about the secret of slowing down the aging process - laugh more bitch less.

Benjamin Franklin and George Burns were born 190 years apart, but they both had the same idea - appreciating the people around you, laughing more, and loving life. Okay, I'm reading more into what they both said, but I know I'm right on the money!

And here's my point - I'm not suggesting it's easy, but as I've gotten older, that old line about, "Don't stress the small stuff...and it's ALL small stuff!" has become more and more important to me. That doesn't mean there aren't times when I totally miss the point, and stress and anxiety trump love and laughter. The point is, we're all work in progress. What I do know is that if I miss a time to laugh, love, and appreciate the moment, I can never get it back. 

Wishing you a day filled with love, laughter, and appreciating everyone in your life that makes it special and unique. The one thing I love most about this time of year, regardless of your spiritual beliefs, it's a time to focus on joy. It might not always be easy to find, but it's always there. Go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs with the people you love the most. That deep love will slow down the aging process...you don't have to get old.

Wrinkles are only where the smiles have been.
Jimmy Buffet