Growing old requires no effort. Aging gracefully, well, that's something completely different. We all know and have heard how disposable our elders are. We walk past them, pay little attention, and have little regard. Now that I'm older, I thought I should have more empathy and understanding towards my friends. If I don't make friends in old age, I won't have anyone to talk to. I've always been struck by people who are comfortable with the fragility of old age. I have no charge against young people who ignore age, and it is a useless act for a generation of cubs to find compassion for the elderly. This does not mean that there are no young people who have affection and respect for their elders, however it is the exception, not the rule. There is no need to try to dig empathy out of our youth, better then work on what it means to grow old gracefully. Grace knows how to ride the ups and downs and all the transitions, and how to always adapt to the times. Years ago, I had this idea to take a group of people (actors/singers) to the old Actors -Motion Picture & Television house in Woodland Hills, to sing Christmas carols. We would do this acapella with just the harmonica to get in tune. I've collected some favorite sing-alongs. I had never even been invited to sing with an elderly person (is there such a thing?) much less did I come up with this idea on my own and then orchestrate it. I have always been afraid of the elderly. I would do anything to avoid them. They scared me down to their bony fingers, and I was certain that if I shook hands with one of them, I would end up shaking a disembodied hand. I was afraid of broken hips, shortness of breath, and long hair growing in the wrong places. So, to come to mind... middle of the paper... when some "way of being" is bankrupt and some other behavior is trying to take its rightful place. None of us ever think we will grow old. My generation was known as “The Young Generation” and we would never age. We branded ourselves with the slogan "Don't trust anyone over thirty," but since Mick Jagger is now over 70, we had to change that number. Aging gracefully means becoming more aware; more aware of your impact, both good and bad; accept what you will never be and contribute what always should have been; have nostalgic conversations with old friends while surrounding yourself with young people. Become more attentive to your health and less attentive to your vanity. To celebrate your birthday by announcing your actual age. It's not easy to grow old gracefully, but it's actually much harder to try to transform