A big part of my new book Living On Purpose is about what to do next.
I am hearing voices.
Pause...
Stop...
Slow down...
Change it up...
Do something else...
Man, it's confusing. I feel like most people in their late 40's and 50's are going through the same things.
A lot of us have been doing the same things for 20-25 years now. Back in the old days, people in their 50's could be preparing to hang it up.
Now, with the average male life expectancy is about 79, so I've still got a real run left. The paint isn't dry!
My kids are getting older. Perhaps I missed some things while I was working.
I'd like to become interesting again, find some new hobbies I can enjoy, and hell, maybe even get to a happy hour one day soon.
Maybe it's time for me to really get healthy, like I was when I was 19.
Maybe it's just time to change things up and do some things a bit differently. We put so much emphasis on jobs and work, so a lot of us feel a little bare without a job status and a consistent paycheck.
I was reading an article from the NY Times that my daughter Nicole sent me called "What If I'm Not Employed?" by Maryam Banikarim. In it, she said:
"Life is about choices and chapters.
In some chapters, you double down on work; in others, you step away. This ends up being something you negotiate with other parts of your life.
This chapter, for me, is a choice to prioritize other things in my life - like spending time with my grandmother and being present for my son's final year at home. Also, I was tired of joking that "I had once been an interesting person with many interests." It was time to rediscover those interests."
The truth of the matter is, I have no idea what I will do next, or even tomorrow!
What I do know is that I have to get comfortable with the realizing that the most important button on my personal remote is the pause button.
I need to make sure I take the time to talk and spend time with my friends and family. I need to try some new things.
I know one thing about myself: I am never going to just get a work-life balance or stop and chill out. I have learned the past 15 years to respect the other pillars of life, though.
I guess there is a reason why highways have speed limits and rest stops (besides saving lives, of course)!
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Quote of the Day: "You can really change the world if you care enough" - Marian Wright Edelman
Song of the Day: "Never Gonna Let You Down" by Colbie Caillat
*My latest book; "Living on Purpose: Stories about Faith, Fortune and Fitness that will lead you to an Extraordinary Life", is NOW available! Click here!*
