You know in a football game how at halftime, the coach takes the team into the locker room, reviews how things have been going, and gives them some advice and motivation for the second half? Meanwhile, the commentators will review the first half and make their recommendations for the second half? Well, I was thinking to myself today...What if I found out that my life was exactly half over today? What would I change? What would I continue to do? How would I want the second half of my life to look? It seems like we usually ask things like, "What would you do if you had one day, or one year, to live?" I'm 44 right now. If I knew I was going to be fortunate enough to live to be 88 years old, how would that affect my thinking?
I'm a big fan of looking forward. Not that I don't look back sometimes. I do it too much, I think. Although my past has made me who I am today, I think it's best for me to take what I've learned and apply it to my present to create a future that I am happy with. I often remind myself that, no matter what my past has held, when I get up each day, it's me who has to make choices for myself in the present moment. No amount of blaming others for our present situation or wishing things were different will change the fact that we are the decision makers. And so, I try to remember this idea as I move forward.
So, in the spirit of looking forward, and not back, I will ask myself this question: Where do I want to go that I haven't gone yet? Who do I want to be that I haven't been yet? Which parts of me do I like and want to keep? Which parts need some tweaking?
I like the fact that I like learning and growing. So even if there are things that I like about myself, I am always interested in improving. For example, I think I'm a pretty good listener, and I like to lend an ear to people who need one. But I'm sure I can improve at that as well. I love learning languages. Perhaps I will try to become fluent in a foreign language. I definitely want to learn to take better care of my body. I am learning that right now. I love playing sports, so perhaps I will take up some sports in my second half. I love reading books and acquiring knowledge on all different subjects. I think I would like to read more. One thing I'm just not good at is housekeeping. My house is a wreck--I kid you not. That is something I would really like to do better at in the second half of my life. I would like to be better at being kind and not thinking bad things about others. When Troy's grandmother passed away, a woman said at her funeral that she had never heard her utter an unkind word about another person. What a wonderful example to try to live up to! I love my family and enjoy all of them daily. I would want to do all that I could to help the joy I feel in those relationships to continue.
I'm sure I could go on for a very long time, but I will spare you my ramblings. My little exercise here motivates me, and gives me a sense of renewed purpose. I know that all of us have amazing amounts of untapped potential. I have to admit that nothing is quite as exciting for me as imagining the person I have the potential of becoming if I put my mind to it.
Have a great day, and a great second half!
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