Washington Irving wrote the short story “Rip Van Winkle” in 1819. It tells the story of a man who falls asleep for twenty years, awakens and finds a completely changed world. In a way we boomers fall into this mystery, where did the years go?
Here is my perspective-
Giving time to everyone, children, spouses, parents and spending time working, attending children’s after school events, professional organizations, classes, meetings. Late nights, early mornings do any of these sound familiar?
I know I have been there and done many of these; the big question is “now what”?
Time to awaken and give to yourself!
For me it was becoming accountable. Admitting that my poor lifestyle choices were leading me down the path to self- destruction, the drinking, drugging, and eating bad foods needed to end.
Sobriety, it is sweet!
Allow yourself to find your spark that enables your dreams, things you may have postponed or overlooked earlier in your life due to “busyness”!
According to the nonprofit group Encore.org, as many as 9 million people aged 44 to 70 are getting paid for work that combines their personal passion with a social purpose. Also an additional 31 million are interested in making the jump into “encore careers.” Our time has arrived to make the changes that facilitate our transition into our next phase of life, walking through the front door of the ‘Refirement Zone’.
Here are some tips that helped me toward self-improvement and a happier life-
- Creating additional time, going to bed ten minutes earlier, getting up five minutes earlier adds up
- Making physical activities more important and fun; stand, stretch, walk
- Improving quality and length of sleep
- Eating more whole foods
- Drinking more water, eliminating soda
- Knowing personal numbers such as- blood pressure, triglycerides, cholesterol
- Making a ‘life gratitude list’
- Finding mentors
- Sobriety
Together we rock, ‘Boomers who Rock’!
Peace