No. 1062 - MUSINGS OF THE LATE ANDY ROONEY!

No. 1062

Jim Davidson -- NEWSPAPER COLUMN

MUSINGS OF THE LATE ANDY ROONEY!

The other day I looked up the definition for the word “muse,” and it means, “To consider thoughtfully or at length; ponder; meditate.” It has long been my personal conviction that we can learn a lot from some of the great men and women who have lived before us, and it is usually time well spent to go back and read, listen to or muse, what they had to say.
Recently, a friend sent me some musings from the late Andy Rooney. Andy passed away back on Nov. 4, 2011, at age 92. He had been a fixture on CBS News, and also the program “60 Minutes” from 1978 until 2011. I used to love to listen to him because he had the knack of saying so much with just a few words.
As I read his “musings,” I was inspired to share them with you, if for no other reason than to remind you and other readers of some things that are truly important. See if you don’t agree. Each of his thoughts is prefaced, by two words, “I’ve Learned.” Andy says:
“I’ve learned that the best education in the world is at the feet of an elderly person. I’ve learned that when you are in love, it shows. I’ve learned that just one person saying to me, ‘you’ve made my day!’ makes my day.
“I’ve learned that having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world. I’ve learned that being kind is more important than being right. I’ve learned that you should never say no to a gift from a child. I’ve learned that I can always pray for someone when I don’t have the strength to help him in any other way. I’ve learned that no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.
“I’ve learned that life is like a roll of toilet paper, the closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes. I’ve learned that we should be glad that God doesn’t give us everything we ask for. I’ve learned that money doesn’t buy class. (A-men) I’ve learned that it’s those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular. I’ve learned that beneath everyone’s hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved. (Another A-men) I’ve learned that to ignore the facts does not change the facts. I’ve learned that when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.
“I’ve learned that love, not time, heals all wounds. I’ve learned that the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am. I’ve learned that everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile. I’ve learned that no one is perfect until you fall in love with them. I’ve learned that life is tough, but I’m tougher. I’ve learned that opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss. I’ve learned that when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere. I’ve learned that I wish I could have told my mom that I love her before she passed away.
“I’ve learned that one should keep his words soft and sweet, because tomorrow he may have to eat them. I’ve learned that a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks. I’ve learned that when your newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his little fist, you are hooked for life. I’ve learned that the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.”
Well, that’s all, folks. Hope you enjoyed Andy’s musings as much as I did. One thing for sure, regardless of the diplomas or certificates we have on the wall, if we knew and practiced all of these things, we would have a pretty good education.
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(Editor’s Note: Bookcase for Every Child – Changing Lives & Futures – ONE AT A TIME. Please visit our website: www.bookcaseforeverychild.com)