I’m Not Too Old To Start Fresh: (Audio)
Often we think we’ve reached the ending of our productiveness and there’s nothing new ahead. Rocking Chairs and Front Porch, here we come! Play with the grandbabies, take long walks around the lake, and enjoy life at a slower pace.
But the reality is that most of us cannot afford to slow down this much! Costs keep rising astronomically and the money you’ve set aside for a rainy day dwindles. Fast. And, if the past 4 weeks of vacation is any indication, we were not created to have an empty time period with no productivity.
So. As we’ve done often, there is a desire to “re-create” ourselves and find a way to prepare for those retiring years, earning money and keeping our respect, not being a heavy load on ourselves or others.
How do you start fresh? What steps do you take? Where can you go for ideas?
All of these questions can be addressed as long as you know your starting point. And that’s my thought today.
Where are you starting from? Can you document your assets and liabilities? Do you have the means to build the first and reduce the second? What skills have you honed, or buried that can be brought to light? What interests do you have that can be productively enjoyed for the next 20 or 30 years? What’s your health status? How mobile will you be? Is there a reason to be close to someone important in your life or will any ol’ place do?
Taking a good hard assessing look at your entire picture is necessary. Hard? Very. You must be honest about where you are, and where it looks like life will be 30 years from now. Can you do it? Sure. You may need some advisors looking over your shoulder to help point out good and bad options. Will it cost you to get to that starting point? Definitely! Nothing comes cheap, and, “You get what you pay for!” Pay for nothing, you get nothing.
Abraham (before his name changed) followed God’s command:
Now the LORD had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:1-3 NKJV)
At 80 years old, Abram was commanded by God to get up and go! You will MAKE a great nation, and you will be blessed and your name shall be great! From all that you do, I will bless all the families of the earth! Why? Because you get up and Go!
Caleb was 85 years old and Israel was ending their time of wandering in the wilderness. He declared he was as strong as he was when he, Joshua and the other 10 spies crept through the Promised Land 45 years earlier.. “Give me this mountain!” he cries out. “I will drive them out as the Lord has said!” (Joshua 14:10-12)
There is a wonderful article listing what some folks did at ages 1-100. (Read Here) Did you know J.R.R. Tolkien published the first volume of his fantasy series, “Lord of the Rings.” At my age? He was 62! Beginning at 63, John Dryden undertook the enormous task of translating the entire works of Virgil into English verse. You can find the oldest mountain climber, age 99, and the oldest known active water skier at age 100…
Listen! It’s never TOO late to start something fresh!
My favorite author, James Michener, did not publish his first novel until after WWII, where “Tales of the South Pacific” morphed from his notes and impressions of time served in the Pacific. By the time he graduated High School he had already visited 45 of the 48 states! He passed away 10/16/97, and I’m referencing him 20 years after his death. Still my favorite author!
Along the path of starting something fresh, you must be realistic to have a goal of something that is definitely within your wheelhouse of possibilities. To declare something that is impossible and waste your time and effort with no reality of achievement, well, that’s delusionary and does not set a good example. Still, you do not have to limit yourself to small goals.
Dream big, and the reward of perseverance can be yours! Share on XI’m just saying! Do not get stale in thinking you can never accomplish a Fresh Start! It starts in your mind and works out to your world. And we are just waiting to see what you accomplish!