AP3 MAKE THEM LAUGH

THE ENTERTAINING MANUAL

AP3 MAKE THEM LAUGH: 

FORVER YOUNG

  

It was the usual supper routine after our club's chapter meeting.  As my club members and I were walking to the carpark, Mike, the youngest member from my club who is in his early 20s, spied a spiffy red car with sports rim and pointed to it. "Cool!" he commented. 

I broke into a wide smile and said, "Good taste. That's my car!"

"What? But but but you're an auntie!" he spluttered in disbelief.

If I were a volcano, I would have erupted and spewed lava all over this tactless young chap.  What? You mean "oldies" cannot be young at heart?

How many of you here are in your twenties? Thirties? The rest of you, I'm sorry, you're aunties and uncles whether you like it or not.

Unfortunately for ladies, our auntie status is often hastened with childbirth. Once I had kids in my thirties, I already became an auntie.  But that didn't stop me from being young at heart. I mean, look at me. Do I look like I'm forty? Please.

Remember in the 1980s there was this pop song "Forever young, I want to be forever young... " How many of you here would like to stay forever young? Come on, own up!  We are living in an anti-aging culture.  Nobody wants to look old or admit they are old. Well, I don't have the elusive elixir that will help us retain youth and longevity. But I do know 3 ways we can stay forever young. 

The first way to stay forever young is to beg Fernando to adopt you, then you can change your surname to Young.  And ladies, you have the extra option of marrying a Young man since Fernando has two sons.  Hopefully they are handsomer versions of him.  Then you can become Mrs Young and that will stay with you forever.

The second way is to stay forever young is to go under the knife  The options available nowadays for cosmetic plastic surgery are varied and truly mind-boggling.  There are all kinds of lifts like brow lift, face lift, even other sagging body parts.  You could also go for rhinoplasty, cheek fillers, lip augmentation or chin surgery. Or how about a few shots of botox to erase  wrinkles - the tell-tale signs of aging.  In a recent issue of 8 Days, Nicole Kidman finally admitted to having used Botox which explains why her forehead stays expressionless even when she's frowning.  Of course this option is only available to those who are filthy rich since plastic surgery is exorbitant.  A simple procedure like cheekbone implants would set you back by 8k dollars.  Unfortunately I don't belong to the filthy rich category so this option is definitely out for me.

The third and easiest way to be forever young is to stay young at heart.  How do we do that? Follow the 3Cs that characterize young people.

The 1st C is curiosity.  Young people are curious, they naturally want to find out about things they don't understand.  This started in their childhood days. Parents, remember the days when your toddlers or kids started asking why? why? why? and almost drove you crazy? Let's keep this spirit of desiring knowledge and it will help us have an active mind.  There is a saying, "Use it, or lose it." Studies also confirm that too little mental stimulation can hasten mental decline. So use your mind constantly to keep it agile and you will stay forever young.

The 2nd C is carefree.  Young people are carefree, they seek out friends, fun experiences and basically know how to enjoy life.  As adults, we are hassled and bogged down by too many responsibilities so when we allow stress and worry to become permanent residents in our lives.  Let's learn to cast our cares aside to enjoy time with family and friends, to pursue our hobbies and interests whether it be public speaking or singing or dancing in the midst of our busyness. Recently I took up kickboxing at a gym and it has done wonders for me.  Put me on an adrenaline high.  So go ahead, do something you really enjoy once a week and see yourself become more airy, animated and at ease, see yourself feeling young again. 

The 3rd C is courage - courage to dream, courage to experience, courage to try. How many times have you backed out of something with the excuse, no lah, I'm too old for this?  Why should we be too old for anything? In Kansas, USA, a 95-year-old woman will become the world's oldest college graduate.  In UK, 49-year-old Susan Boyle who became an overnight sensation was awarded the record for being the oldest person to reach number one with a debut album.  The list could go on and on.  Don't ever tell yourself I'm too old for this.  If you want to do it, just go for it. That's the spirit to staying young at heart.

So there you have it ladies and gentlemen, the secret to staying young at heart, be curious, be carefree, be courageous to pursue your dreams.  And don't let anyone tell you: "you're too old for this!"