SECRET

The Secret to Staying Young

What’s the secret to staying young?
It isn’t a pill or a song you’ve sung.
It’s not in a gym or a bottle of dye,
It’s waking each morning still asking, 'Why?'

It’s arguing cheerfully over the news,
And laughing when you can’t find your shoes.
It’s walking the halls with a purpose or two,
Even if halfway there you forget what to do.

It’s keeping your humor when glasses break ,
Or cleaning up messes seems hard to take .
It’s calling your neighbor for coffee and chat,
Then both forgetting what started all that!

It’s sharing a story that nobody’s heard,
Though you’ve told it six times—every word.
It’s singing off-key with the Joyful Sound choir,
Because heartbeats, not pitch, make the music inspire.

At Merrill Gardens, we’ve learned this truth clear:
You don’t grow old when you’ve friends still near.
So laugh till you wheeze, and dream till you grin—
The trick to life’s ending is not to begin!

---