Have you ever realized that there are so many older people who are healthy and happy and who keep a great attitude towards life? What do they have that we could learn, copy, and live the same way? They have a zest for life that is even more expressed the longer they live.

Now, throughout their lives, these men and women have indeed faced tribulations and tragedies just like the rest of us. They have laughed and they have cried; they have suffered and they have loved, they have lived good and bad days; they have lived through wars, epidemics, and ordinary and extraordinary diseases.

They have raised their children and grandchildren; they have lost and they have gained. They had ups and downs. Nothing truly different from our ordinary life, really.

Now that they realize their life is getting shorter and they have fewer expectations, they seem even happier. They have learned to let go of the past. They take care of their health and appearance, they participate in their community's affairs, they give their time and talents to those who are ready to receive them. How do they do that?

Of course, their attitude is a great thing, but it is not my point for now. How they live and the reason for this great attitude of them lies in the fact they have come to terms with their "expectations." And I am not saying this because they have none. Not at all. But the way they deal with expectations differ from us who have yet a long time to live.

Rarely is the older person who has learned about the Law of Attraction and the basic concepts of Metaphysics, which are so widespread these days. So, for them, as for others who do not dwell in spiritual laws (I am not talking about religion), the notion of us being responsible for the nature of our life is a foreign concept.

Therefore, just like us before we knew better, their thoughts have provided them with the quality of their life, be it positive or negative. Hence, their ups and downs. Now that they have fewer expectations they are happier. They have learned to take life at face value. Their minds are not playing tricks on them.

See the connection? Since they don't expect negative events, these events never manifest. They have finally learned to truly live in the present, and because they fully live in the present, their future is better. And they are happier. Al older gentleman told me this past week: "At my age I don't even buy green bananas!"

But humor apart, we need to understand that this doesn't mean that we too should have fewer expectations. It means that we need to trust that our expectations are always positive.

So the lesson today is that if we live in the present and expect the positive, we will not only have a great life now, in the present, but also tomorrow, our future. And who knows, we can be Mister and Miss Universe at age 120!