Tag Archives: How to live to be 100

Stop Striving

One of my favorite stories is that of a young reporter who was sent on assignment to interview a local man who had turned 100 years old. The reporter, armed with questions, asked the old man, “So, to what do you attribute your living to be a hundred years? Did you exercise faithfully or commit to a healthy diet? Did you live cautiously to avoid danger or adventurously to keep you young?” The old man paused a moment replied simply, “Well, I’ve just tried not to argue with people.” The young man looked surprised, and said, “Surely, it must be more than that!” The old man smiled a bit and answered, “You know, maybe you’re right!”

There is a time for standing your ground for what is right. But how many times do we find ourselves ‘arguing’ or disagreeing with others for no good reason, over some detail that just doesn’t matter. Through 40 years of marriage, Marcia and I have learned to decrease this nonesense, but still sometimes find ourselves caught up in some senseless debate until one of us has the wisdom to end it with, “Maybe you’re right!”

Sometimes we strive with each other. Sometimes we strive with ourselves and God, which is okay. God welcomes any honest discussion with us. For example, I was talking with Him about my slow recovery from the last round of chemo. “You know God (as if He had somehow forgotten), this is the 70th day since I started chemo and it’s been 44 days since my last chemo ended. My body should be producing enough good blood cells by now so I wouldn’t need more transfusions. I should be getting better quicker so I could meet with more people.” You get the idea. It was mostly a one-sided discussion.

But at some point along the way, whether you are talking to yourself, others, or The Almighty Creator himself, it makes sense to stop striving. Stop striving to be right about something that ultimately either doesn’t matter or you have no control over, and instead find the peace that is available to you right now. Peace for you and for those around you.

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:18