“How old would you be if you
didn’t know how old you were?” - Satchel Paige
Stop, close your eyes, and don’t move. Don’t think about your chronological age. How old do you feel in your mind? Most people I ask say at lease twenty to thirty years younger than they really are. WOW! What a difference. Yes, articles are being written today and many doctors and holistic healers are all saying that reaching one hundred years old is going to become common place. That, 50 is the new 30, 60 is the new 40, etc. If we feel so young in our minds and we have all of this time, what are we going to do with it?
One thing for sure, we should start having more FUN. I know, you’re playing golf, tennis, bridge, whatever, but do these fit with your definition of FUN. For me, FUN is something that is not competitive, not even with myself. For instance, I used to think that FUN was putting together a jigsaw puzzle. That was until some friends of mine and I started working on a great picture of the Grand Canyon. Typically, we poured all of the pieces out of the box and started by putting the border together first. I don’t think anyone else at the table noticed, but one of the girls took an edge piece and tucked it under her leg, later getting up from the table and putting it in her shirt pocket. Please! Here we were, an old group of girlfriends, in our jeans, having a relaxing weekend, yet, as I found out three days later, she had to be the one to put in the last piece!
Okay, so now what was I going to do strictly for FUN. Think about it. What can you do that is totally just FUN? Maybe on the edge a little; something that is out of the ordinary for you. Maybe something you haven’t ever done before. Maybe something that is even a little scary. Maybe something you’ve always wanted to try. What, am I hearing “No, I couldn’t do that!” Why not? Are you afraid of embarrassing yourself? Afraid someone will see you?
One of the greatest things about being a child is that we don’t feel like we have to always do something and get it “right” the first time. We just try it out. Why is it that as we grow older, we think that we have to always “get it right” or we’ll feel like a failure or feel judged by someone else? Shoot, go for it! Who cares? At least you’re out there giving it a whirl!
My seventy-three year old great aunt surprised the whole family one Christmas, when she climbed into the new go-cart my brother had just gotten, in her red taffeta dress, and sped off down the street. I thought that was the coolest thing! My mother and grandmother were shocked! Me?
Auntie was my new idol. So, if you see a grandparent out on the lake on water skis, don’t judge too quickly, it might be ———– , let’s hope, YOU!!!
Choose Life! Go for Life! Laugh and create a memory Everyday!
Carolyn Bates is an ICF Certified Personal Life Coach
Specializing in successful life transitions and retirement for people 50 +
Visit her website at www.coachinglifedesign.com
Your first consultation is always complimentary 830-598-8961
“Coaching is my passion. The success of my clients, my reward.”
Copyright © 2008 Carolyn C. Bates LLC All Rights Reserved
