I’m what many would say “middle-aged”…
Of course, mid-life is a relative term, and based on average ages of life-expectancy, I’m past that point, but where I am is in between raising my family and becoming a grandparent. I’m concentrating on the next half of my career. I’m “mid-life”.
I previously wrote 10 Benefits of Being Middle-Aged.
It’s a subject I think a lot about, because of the changes that come as I’ve entered this season of life.
Here are 10 current thoughts on mid-life:
You start missing things, people, places you’ve experienced and known even more…
You increase your consideration of “down the road”…
You reflect even more on “days gone by”…
You become more intentional about “what’s next?”…
You are expected to be fully “grown up” but you have more days of wanting to be a kid again…
You think high school wasn’t so bad after all…
Your parents impression on you becomes even more realized…
You forget more than you remember…until the memory hits you again…
You can still push yourself physically, but you pay for it afterwards…
You love bumping into someone you haven’t seen in 20 plus years…
Any mid-life stagers out there? What have you learned?
Great insights on psychology and intricacies of ageing in the life of a human being.
Thanks Uma
Good post Ron…and I couldn't have said it better. Or maybe I should have said I wouldn't remember what to say.
Yea, that too!
Twitter: buster21047
says:
So true what you wrote about middle age. I’ve had all the same experiences. I was considering this just two days ago and looking back at how my life has changed over the past ten years. Some things were truly awesome as I became aware of my aging body I put more of my energy and resources toward accomplishing things I had always dreamed of doing like revisiting exotic places I had the pleasure to visit while in the Navy some forty years ago and just one year ago I finally took time to meander the streets of a small village high in the Andes Mountains. These things I did were a lifelong dream for me.
Unfortunately, I also acted with such urgency to accomplish “MY” goals that I neglected to take care of the people and things that God had blessed me with and that had enabled me to reach this point in my life. A word of caution for those who find themselves looking back and contemplating your accomplishments. Count your present blessings. If you are saved and enjoy fellowship with the Father then you are where God intended you to be. The “real me” is not the man I always dreamed of being, the “real me” is the man God created me to be. If we set our mind on things above and allow God to rule the day and to direct our path we can look back as the apostle Paul did and say “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. 2 Timothy 4: 7-8.
….high school really was that bad….lol. I will say that my parents' impression on me did strike a cord, though. It constantly amazes me how much a great childhood just now really begins to sink in. Having been raised in an authentic Christian home does make a difference…your whole life. It seems at middle age that life starts the process of taking away more than it gives. Maybe that is part of the plan of looking more towards eternity:)
High school was great. Actually it was that I couldn't wait to get out and “make something” of myself. Didn't realize how much was available to me then.
I have learned to be even more thankful for God’s provisions each and every day. (many of the things you mentioned have also been true- especially seeing friends you haven’t seen in 20 years- something I experienced twice this past summer.)
I have learned to be even more thankful for God’s provisions each and every day.
As a pastor i say, "I wish I had known this years ago" a lot more. My wife was hugging me the other day, she said something, and I made a comment about a smarter husband. She made the kind "I am amazed by how smart you at times" remark and I said, "There are so many things i wish I had known." Maybe I am forgetting I say it but I do say it a lot. 🙂
Yea, I'm with you on this comment…registering well…