In my book, “Choosing Life,” I told you that I taught my sons when they were youngsters to be patient with older people.  We called them LOC’s and LOD’s, Little Old Chicks and Little Old Dudes.  I told them that older people had worked hard all their lives and that they could go as slow as they wanted.  And that we were going to wait for them.  Children need to be taught.

Do you want to know why they move slowly?  Because everything hurts when they move.  That’s because everything we did to our bodies when we were young comes back to remind us now.  Lesson #1, don’t wreck your body.  You are going to need it later.

People do not change as they get older.  They just get more so.  Grumpy old people used to be grumpy young people.  It’s just harder to fake it or cover it up when you get old.    Kind, generous old people were once kind, generous young people.  So decide what kind of old person you want to be and start practicing now.

Hang on to every older friend and family member you know.  They have been “led down the garden path” many times, and they know what’s at the end of that path.  If you are lucky, they will tell you where you are headed and what’s at the end of your path.  It could save you a world of hurt.

Whatever age you are, that LOC or LOD has been there and done that.  They may not be able to come up with the perfect plan for you, but they can tell you when you are headed for a cliff at ninety miles per hour.

So, if you want life lessons for free — the easy way, not the trial and error way — find yourself as many LOC’s and LOD’s as you can who will give you the time of day.