Lud Wallgren, an acquaintance of mine, died peacefully this week at the age of 89. Before you begin to feel sad, let me say, I believe the feeling of ‘joy’ is a better and more accurate emotion. Lud got to live a long and healthy life. He came through many struggles. He was in the Navy in World War II, got married, and had kids. He was no stranger to struggle and strife. He lost a son unexpectedly who was playing basketball in college after collapsing from an unknown heart ailment. Lud knew grief, but he also knew optimism. After his wife passed away about 10 years ago, he re-invented himself. He developed a software product for inventory accounting that until the day he died, he was actively trying to market. He also joined a church, established a program to help others, and got a younger girlfriend (she was 82!).  I think Lud’s glowing smile, eternal optimism and dogged determination exemplifies the best in us.

How many struggles do you have now? When you are 89 (if you are lucky enough to reach that age), how will you look back upon your life? You get the chance now to make changes so that you will be proud of yourself for doing the best you can for any situation. You may not succeed easily. Lud lost several jobs due to downsizing during his career and even had to pull up stakes from Indiana and move his family to Missouri for a new job.  Life isn’t necessarily easy, but by putting one step in front of the other, by enthusiastically pursuing our dreams, and remaining optimistic despite our setbacks, maybe we will have a full and happy life, just like Lud.