Today as I was leaving the NSAA Presidential Breakfast with my Vice President, we saw a large semi trailer seeming stuck in a car park at a shopping centre. It had hit the "too high" bar and the driver was busy on the phone trying to work out what to do. The little old lady knew what to do.
Several drivers impatiently drove their car on the wrong side of the road to get around the truck. Other pedestrians, shuffled around avoiding everyone, but the little old lady knew what to do!
She gracefully and with purpose went about her business walking toward the shops. As she crossed the road in front of the truck (whose driver was still on the phone) she gave him a big wave to say "thanks for stopping for me."
The Vice President and I cracked up laughing as it looked so comical. But that was when I realised that the little old lady was right. Regardless of whether the truck had stopped for her or not, she waved a thank you as if it did. She was courteous, graceful and focussed on what she needed to achieve for the day while realising that sometimes you will get support from unexpected places. Even if it merely a truck that has stopped where you need it to.
Too often the youth of today (and those who still wish they were the youth of today!) dismiss out of hand the lessons from those who have had more life experience. Today I got one from a little old lady just living her life.
One of my favourite little old ladies, Betty White, recently gave her 10 Tips for Living a Long and Happy Life on the Letterman show. If you want to see the video, click on her picture above. Here are some of my favourites from Betty:
- Get at least 8 hours of beauty sleep, 9 if you are ugly
- Avoid tweeting any photos of your private parts
- Schedule a nightly appointment with Johnny Walker
- Don't waste your time watching TV
- Never dwell on past mistakes
- Try not to die
What can you learn from the little old ladies in your life?
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