Growing old is mandatory .

I thought I would have a try at drawing a self portrait.  I sat before my computer and took a picture which I used as my source.

I painted it using my adonis pen and my iPad. Oh dear every time I look at it I am aware that I am indeed getting older.

At first I felt a bit depressed then I sat and thought about what I had learned from Taoism about getting older and life itself. What have I learned?

"We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. 

There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. 

You have to laugh and find humour everyday. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead, and they don't even know it!" she said. 

"There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. 

If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn 20 years old. 

If I am 73 years old, and stay in bed for a year, and never do anything, I will turn 74. Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. "

"The idea is to grow up by always finding the opportunity in change. 

Have no regrets. The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets." 

"GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY, GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL."

Not what will I do today? What damage or mischief can I do today?

Have a wonderful day.