My 70^th Birthday Message

V S Rama Rao

            09-10-2012

They say I am Seventy!

And they want to celebrate the occasion! They want to make my day! With me among them. I dedicate this day to my children, my children-in-law, my grand children, my near and dear relatives, friends, well wishers and all my affectionate acquaintances.

They say I am Seventy. The Calendar says I am Seventy! But my mind wonders … Are You? It asks… So What! And what is the Big Deal! So many of my living friends and relatives are seventy, or more! And other elders even older!

Anybody can become seventy, or older, if only they live long enough. What matters is how much of their life did they really live? They really enjoyed. They really progressed. All of it? Some of it? None of it?

No matter what any body may say about your age and life, what matters is what Your Mind says! Did it forget the games you played in your childhood? The love and affection that was showered on you and you showered on others? Your parents, your spouse, your children, relatives, teachers, friends, colleagues, supporters and other well wishers!

As long as the answers to these questions are in the negative, you are never old! You will never be old. You may have grown, or may be growing, older by the Second, by the Hour, by the Day, by the Year, but you can never become old!

Your memories can keep you young. And happy too. Regardless of your age! But, for that, you have to lay the foundation for your old age happiness when you are still young. When you are still not old, still not that old. At least, still not This Old! It is never too late to lay the foundation for tomorrow’s happiness! No foundation is too weak if it was Conscientious. If it was purposeful. I keep strengthening my foundation even now, tomorrow, the day after, the week after, if I continue to live, and as long as I live, till the Invitation comes from my Creator!

And, what are my building materials? Clean Habits are the granite cubes that make the structure. Clean thinking is the cement that bonds. Clean dealings are the showers of water that cure and consolidate. On this foundation stands the Happy Home.  Respect for self and respect for others illuminate it. Learning and helping others learn make the doors and windows. Sensible economics and living within means make the roof. Periodical reviews and future plans cover the maintenance.

Living in this abode gives me strength. To face life’s trials and tribulations. To withstand emotional earthquakes and tsunamis. To set back behind me all kinds of setbacks. It gives me a lot of learning. Vital to Life. That you and your way of thinking alone have the power to regard adversities as trivialities. To render them fleetingly temporary. Incapable to cause any harm to you, or damage to your determined happiness. And of those close to you.

If you use your power of positive thinking you can be a tower of strength. An inspiration to your dear ones. A challenge to exceed you in happiness. In your sense of fulfillment. In the way you conducted yourself, and your life. How you counted your blessings and discounted your troubles. Without a bother or concern about the count down that may have already started.

I may be a prisoner of my birth, but I remained a free bird in all my thoughts. In most of my actions. In some of my acquisitions. In a few of my achievements. But I traveled a long way. Along the road I chose. I drove along as per the road and traffic conditions. Largely following the road signs and traffic signals. Violating a few and paying penalties. Vowing not to repeat them. Slowing down over speed breakers. And stepping down on the accelerator on straight roads. With eyes both on the road ahead, and on the rear view mirror.

I have now arrived at this destination. Safely and smoothly! But it may just be a camp. A brief halt. While I am at this current destination, all I do is enjoy reminiscences. Explore opportunities to enrich the remaining part of my life. In preparation to my journey to my final destination. Considering everyday from today as a Bonus. I want to live to nobody’s regret. And, God willing, to depart to at least somebody’s regret.

I believe if I could think and do like this, anybody can. Everybody can. All this. And more! I implore you enrich your life. And enjoy your life. As long as you long. As long as it lasts.

Thank you for being with me. And thank you for bearing with me.

I bless you! God bless you!