Today's life lesson I want to share with you is one which my dad taught me when I was about ten. I was the baby of the family, so I often found myself in the company of older people and it was at this time that I often heard conversations about growing older and the resulting wrinkles. It seemed to be a major concern, especially for women. I asked my father about this problem which seemed to be a product of growing older. I specifically asked his advice on how I could escape it since I was definitely planning to grow up. He laughed at this and his answer stayed with me all through the years. He explained that wrinkles were simply a part of life and that we do not really have much of a choice in the matter (of course he had no idea what an amazing skin my sister would have one day). His advice to me was that it came down to choice. No, not a choice about whether I would have wrinkles or not, but a choice about what type of wrinkles they would be. Would they be angry wrinkles or wrinkles of laughter? After some deep thought, I decided that every line would tell a story of joy, happiness, and contentment.
I am not really ecstatic about my acquired 'character lines', but whenever I observe them, I remember my dad's words and I remember the lines of merriment on his handsome face, and I hope he would be smiling at mine. Every moment is precious, enjoy each one. Find the joy, look for reasons to laugh, smile at people passing you on the street, share a joke with the weary workers behind the counters and even smile at those who greet you with long sullen faces. Let happiness leave its mark around your lips, next to your eyes and in your heart.
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