I have been having many conversations with friends of mine about what the second half holds. The key perhaps is in re-defining one’s understanding of the concept of ‘doing’ – turning that energy inward and valuing it as much as one valued all those years of externalized effort. Some thoughts for this morning…
Good Friday morning, everyone. My friend Dorothy Sander wrote today’s post. Dorothy blogs for the Huffington Post, and her blog, Aging Abundantly, is another joyful resource for those of us in the second half.
This is her response to “I Don’t Want to Live Forever”. I felt empowered by Dorothy’s words. Hope you do, too.
How very sad that advancing years seems to spawn despair and a sense of hopelessness and fear. About ten years ago, in my early 50’s I watched my parents journey through their last days, one dying at 89, the other at 97 and the thing that struck me then was exactly that. They couldn’t figure out how to live without “doing” something. I vowed then, that I would try to figure out a better way to die so that I don’t have to die in despair.
I have been wrestling with my own version…
View original post 426 more words
Waiting for the Karma Truck 
Thanks Mimi for sharing this! 🙂
My pleasure!
I have also been having similar conversations with my friends…interesting.
I think some of us are just at the age where we realize that we need to move not just to another chapter, but perhaps another story entirely.
Exactly! I keep thinking that my mother did not get her first “real” career job until she was in her late 40’s, that was a different story indeed. Our lives are like a series of short story, some much better than others…Hmm, I feel a blog post coming on Mimi.
Laughing – go for it Lou Ann!!!
Couldn’t agree more!
Thanks for re-posting, Mimi! “we need to move not just to another chapter, but perhaps another story entirely.” I couldn’t agree more! Well said.
My pleasure – your post was terrific!
I read the words and nod my head in agreement and cognitively understanding. I reflect long, hard and deeply upon our conversations and your blogs. The conclusion I’ve come to today is that I’m “stuck” and
I have to get used to the fact that I have time to become unstuck at any pace I choose and I am confident I will, just maybe not today.
I am one of the most impatient people in the world with myself “jheit”. I sometimes think I’ve spent my entire life being “stuck”. I think that it has been partly because I didn’t understand, or fully grasp, the concept that life – personal/spiritual growth – is about “process”, not arriving at a particular destination. Do we ever really “arrive”, or do we just come up with another destination that is further away? I have also discovered in recent years that pushing too hard is actually counter-productive. It has been helpful for me to tune into my “stuck-ness” and see if there is something in that place for me to learn; in other words, embrace it rather than resist it. It sounds to me like your are beginning to accept that you are exactly where you need to be.
Reminds me of the book titled “Wherever You Go, There You are”..
“we have met the enemy and he is us”? though maybe we should change it to “we have met a friend and she is us”. 🙂
I think I’m going to adopt your paraphrase – it is far better. 😉
I don’t think you’re stuck…I think you’re where many of us are – understanding that our extrinsic success (which arguably provided many intrinsic rewards) is not going to be realized in the same way. Finding that purpose in other endeavors and relationships – that seems to be the challenge…xox
thanks for reblogging
🙂
a lovely, soul-filling share. An astute woman! I am a new and instant fan. Thanks MiMi!!
Me too – I just started following her and she really is terrific.
This is pure deliciousness. I am feeling so hugged right now (came over from Lori Lara: http://lorilara.com/2013/09/24/notes-from-a-former-people-pleaser/ where I opened to letting go of the need for approval) and invited to embrace where I am in life – I’ll be 50 in February and have had a feeling of ‘second half’ for the past 7-8 years…breathing into the transformation, the wisdom, the depth of heart-speak…so glad to be surrounded by lovely blossoms like you and your friends, Mimi. Thanks for sharing.