LXX-that stands for SEVENTY.

Am I in a race against time? No, actually it is not a race at all, because I allow time to pass. As time passes  it often throws in reminders by showing me the calendar and the different seasons going past and telling me very subtly time and again that another spring has gone by and the season for planting new flowers and vegetables has arrived. I take the bait, plant new flowers and vegetables, but don't bother about the year that has gone by. I don't let time affect me and as there is no struggle, life remains quiet, peaceful and smooth.

Yet there was this day recently when I went to a sleepy little castle which was once bustling with life, joy, music, the best crockery, cutlery, wine, exotic style and famous people all  gathered to pass an evening together with happiness and fun.

On my visit to that castle I was struck by the quiet, solitude and stillness hanging in that very room which pulsated with joyful sounds, once upon a time. Today that very room with all its beautifully, carefully curated art work from all over the world told me that time had indeed

taken its toll here. People who laughed and joked and brought people together were no longer there. All that remained were the collections, the comforts, the memories.

In this world we collect so much, we beautify so much, we entertain so much and then we allow age to catch up.

People  become morose, tired, frustrated. Someone has got dementia and someone has become a full time care taker.

Is that what life is all about?

Despair, dismal, desolate and then inevitable death?

No, it is not karma. It is not the retribution for past sins of another life. This is the only life that an individual has. The only life to achieve, live and reap the rewards. What changes everything around is attitude.

Attitude towards life, time, woes, sorrow, hope, despair, happiness, memories.

We just need to pick ourself from wherever we are, take a good look at ourself, wrinkles, pouches, dark circles and all. Look at the pretty world that we have created and think of how we can still make a difference to this world and its people.

There are so many who need our wisdom, our experience, our guidance, our patience and our resilience. Pass it on, we can still make a difference.

Older people are a boon to society. They can show by their charm, wit, presence of mind and ability to go on, that age is just in the mind. One has to go on living irrespective of the number game and make that living worthwhile.

Khushwant Singh, kept writing till he died at the age of 99, Zohra Sehgal, who was an actress, dancer, choreographer, was 95 when she acted in Chini Kum,  Fauja Singh, 104 year old marathon runner, who took up this sport at the age of 80 when he moved to London, still runs.

There are many others but I am talking of only a few whom we all know of and who did not allow age to affect their life.

If they could continue till the age of 100, then why fret when our age is not yet around 70, take a few or add a  few numbers? We still have at least another thirty years to make a difference.

The correct attitude, acceptance of hope rather than despair, looking at the silver lining rather than the dark cloud in front of it, could well be the chariot which will carry us forward with a beacon in our hand lighting the path for others to follow.

It is a win win situation.

Go on, live it up, make a difference.