A friend of mine shared this by mail and I just could not resist temptation to share it with you all. Please do spare some time to read it and share your views :
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THE BACK NINE | 
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I FIRST STARTED READING THIS EMAIL
  & WAS READING FAST UNTIL 
I REACHED THE THIRD SENTENCE. 
I STOPPED AND STARTED OVER READING
  SLOWER AND THINKING ABOUT EVERY WORD. THIS EMAIL 
IS VERY THOUGHT PROVOKING. MAKES YOU
  STOP AND THINK.   
READ SLOWLY! | 
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AND THEN IT IS WINTER | 
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You know ... time has a way of moving
  quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years. It seems just
  yesterday that I was young, just married and embarking on my new life
  with my mate. Yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all
  the years went. I know that I lived them all. I have glimpses of how it was
  back then and of all my hopes and dreams. | 
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But, here it is... the back nine of my life
  and it catches me by surprise... 
How did I get here so fast? 
Where did the years go and where 
did my youth go? | 
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I remember well seeing older people
  through the years and thinking that those older people were years away from
  me and that I was only on the first hole and the back nine was so far
  off that I could not fathom 
it or imagine fully what it 
would be like. | 
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But, here it is...my friends are
  retired and getting gray...they move slower and I seean older person now. 
Some are in better and some 
worse shape than me...but, 
I see the great change....Not like
  the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant...but, like me, their age
  is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and
  never thought we'd become. | 
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Each day now, I find that just
  getting 
a shower is a real target for the
  day! 
And taking a nap is not a treat
  anymore... it's mandatory! 
Cause if I don't on my own free
  will... I just fall asleep where I sit! | 
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And so...now I enter into this new
  season of my life unprepared for 
all the aches and pains and the loss 
of strength and ability to go and 
do things that I wish I had done 
but never did!! 
But, at least I know, that though 
I’m on the back nine, 
and I'm not sure how long 
it will last...this I know, that when 
it's over on this earth...it's over. 
A new adventure will begin!   
Yes, I have regrets. 
There are things I wish I hadn't
  done...things I should have done, but indeed, there are many things 
I'm happy to have done. 
It's all in a lifetime. | 
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So, if you're not on the back
  nine yet...let me remind you, 
that it will be here faster
  than 
you think. So, whatever
  you would 
like to accomplish in your life 
please do it quickly! 
Don't put things off too long!! 
Life goes by quickly. So, do what you
  can today, as you can never be sure whether you’re on the back nine or not! | 
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You have no promise that you will 
see all the seasons of your
  life....so, 
live for today and say all the things
  that you want your loved ones to remember...and hope that they appreciate and
  love you for all the things that you have done for them 
in all the years past!! | 
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"Life" is a gift to you.   
The way you live your life is your 
gift to those who come after. 
Make it a fantastic one. 
LIVE IT WELL!  ENJOY TODAY! 
DO SOMETHING FUN!  BE HAPPY !
  HAVE A GREAT DAY 
Remember "It is health
  that is 
real wealth and not pieces of gold 
and silver.  
LIVE HAPPY IN 2017! | 
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LASTLY, CONSIDER THIS: | 
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~Your kids are becoming you......but
  your grandchildren are perfect! | 
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~Going out is good.. Coming home is
  better! | 
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~You forget names.... But it's OK
  because some people forgot they even knew you!!! | 
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~You realize you're never going to be
  really good at anything like golf. | 
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~The things you used to care to do,
  you aren't as interested in anymore, but you really don't care that you
  aren't as interested. | 
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~You sleep better on a lounge chair
  with the TV 'ON' than in bed. It's called "pre-sleep". | 
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~You miss the days when everything
  worked with just an "ON" and "OFF" switch.. | 
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~You tend to use more 4 letter words
  ... "what?"..."when?"... ??? | 
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~You notice everything they sell in
  stores is "sleeveless"?!!! | 
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~What used to be freckles are now
  liver spots. | 
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~Everybody whispers. | 
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~You have 3 sizes of clothes in your
  closet.... 2 of which you will never wear. | 
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~~~But Old is good in some things:
  Old Songs, Old movies, and best of all,   
OLD FRIENDS!! | 
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Stay well, "OLD FRIEND!" 
Send this on to other "Old
  Friends!" and let them laugh in AGREEMENT!!! 
It's Not What You Gather, But What
  You Scatter That Tells What Kind Of Life You Have Lived. | 
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TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOU'VE EVER
  BEEN; YET THE YOUNGEST YOU'LL EVER BE, SO ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS | 
“ Do Not
Regret Growing Older.
It is a Privilege Denied to Many.”
