I always admire people who exercise. In particular older folks who make exercise a daily routine. At 75 Jack was truly an inspiration.

There was a pond in the middle of this beautiful park. Some may argue that it is a lake. I have no idea what qualifies water to be either, but this was big enough and small enough to walk around several times as a part of an exercise program.

Jack ran.

I wasn't there to break records. In fact, I was just out for a stroll. But Jack zipped by me at least four times in the time it took me to complete my walk around once.

Now, mind you I stopped several times. I 'm not that bad.

At the end I sat on a bench where I started. I was watching the children tease the ducks. They would chase them and then pretend to have some food for them. I felt sorry and was about to scold them, until a woman walked up with a bag full of feed and old bread. The kids ran away screaming because the ducks, pigeons and sparrows flocked to where they were standing when the woman threw the food their way. One kid yelled, "Alfred Hitchcock, "The Birds!"

That did it.

I was laughing right at the time Jack sat down next to me as he completed his last lap and was slowly unwinding.

"How do you do it?," I asked as I shook my head.

Jack smiled and whispered his reply to me as he leaned toward where I was sitting.

"Don't tell anyone. My secret is..."

I actually leaned in to hear this. I thought he had the secret to youth.

He continued whispering. "My secret is...I do this...one step at a time."

Then he started laughing.

Feeling the fool, I pretended to go along with the joke realizing then that my question was stupid.

"My name is Bob," I said as I offered my hand to him.

"Call me Jack," he said and shook my hand with a very firm grip.

"Jack, seriously. You appear to be a little older than I and look in great shape. Have you always been this healthy?" I asked, cautiously thinking about my wording.

"I'm 75 and proud of it!" he said. "As for my health, about five years ago they told me my heart was in bad shape. My choice was to sit back and let life take its course or for me to plan it. I took charge," He said as he changed his running shoes.

Continuing he said, "The fact is, I should have done that long ago. I would probably be in even better shape."

"What advice can you give a soon to be 51 year old man with extremely high cholesterol?" I asked.

He looked me straight in the eye as he placed his hand on my shoulders and said, "Sneakers."

"I should have the best sneakers to run in?" I asked.

"No. Always remember to tie your sneakers before you take off. I didn't the first time I started running. I fell on my face and chipped the bone in my right knee. I couldn't start again for weeks," he said laughing.

Did I mention this young 75 year old also had a great sense of humor?

"Seriously, Bob. The key to setting any goals in your life is to be prepared. Check everything before you start chasing after your dreams. I know so many people who are miserable today because they started running after their dreams, always in pursuit of them. Instead they needed to become their dreams. Why are we always chasing things? They chased them and fell flat on their face because they weren't prepared."

Still trying to get some valuable information on staying healthy I started to ask, "So, the key to living longer and being happy with your life is...." he interrupted me.

"Don't forget to tie your sneakers!" he said.

There you have it..."The secret to success."

"I believe in You!"
Bob Perks

©2001 Bob Perks
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