DLTOMI
Don’t you just love acronyms? Maybe not, but the one above holds a deeper meaning we should all pay attention to, regardless of our age, sex, lifestyle, gender, or social status. DLTOMI (pronounced Del-toe-me) stands for: Don’t Let The Old Man In.
DLTOMI is a mantra not only for those of us at―or approaching―a certain age group, but one that can guide our daily lives and give us that freedom to Carry On, to live, love, laugh, and learn. If you aren’t already familiar with the Toby Keith song of the same name, you really should check it out on the YouTube (https://youtu.be/yc5AWImplfE), and pay special attention to the well-known star of this music video. As of this printing, he's in his mid-nineties and still not letting that old dude in!
Even if you don’t like country music, Toby Keith, Clint Eastwood, or being told what to do, I will still plead with you to DLTOMI! You should really read the full song lyrics also, so you can let their message sink in for yourself.
The singular line to focus on within these lyrics is this: “Ask yourself how old would you be, if you didn’t know the day you were born.” Read that again and again. That’s some powerful stuff right there. I realize it’s another way to say you’re only as old as you feel, but I think it takes that statement to a new level.
I have witnessed examples in my own life of folks on both sides of that coin. Some refuse to let the old man in, continuing to learn and seek out new adventures/opportunities every day, no matter how old they are. Many of them are facing tough struggles too, but that still doesn’t dampen their DLTOMI drive. Then, there are those who see the scarcity of time as an unyielding enemy they can’t beat, so they give up, rather than make each day the best it can be for themselves and for others. And, again, why not look for a reason to truly live life every day? There are so many things you can accomplish, and most don’t take a lot of effort, you know?
Listen, I get it. Life is hard, and thinking of the meaning of life is hard, but guess what? There’s someone out there your exact same age, who knows that today is their last day on this planet. While you’re worrying about how much time you have left, they’re praying that the doc, or God, or the cosmos got things wrong, that they have one more day to live in this life. If you’re reading this, that means you are still alive (or peeking in from another dimension, but that’s a chapter in another book for another day). Get out there and embrace today on its own merits! Try not to mope around and stress over how much time you have left in this existence. Do something meaningful now, and let tomorrow take care of itself. If you’re lucky, you’ll get another chance to sip coffee, smile, and wave at the old man outside your window. Hell, maybe you’ll flip him off before you get busy and make it a great day. Either way works for me, and seems like an easy choice, but hey, perspective and all that.
And I’m not preaching from a moral high ground. I have wasted too many moments thinking about why things have to end someday, which is why DLTOMI is so important. A good friend of mine (a brother from another mother) and I text/email this reminder back and forth to each other often, and it really helps.
In conclusion, I am officially challenging you: Don’t Let The Old Man In.
And, you know the penalty for not accepting a challenge from a writer, don’t you? That’s correct, they make you read even more of their unsolicited opinions. Muwahahahahaha!
Thanks for reading, and remember, whatever you are, be a good one!
-Dave
