A philosopher/theologian whom I regard quite highly talks about the first half and the second half of life. Life is not exactly divided into two equal halves, but it is divided into two very different task assignments if we look at the first versus the second parts. He says “this first half-of-life task is no more than finding the starting gate”… for the second half.
The goals are really pretty straightforward for those who can now reflect on what they experienced once they left home, once they graduated from college or a tech program, once they got married…and all that follows from these and the careers that paid the way. What I’ve seen with my life and what I’ve observed in my own kids, however, is that everyone has a different path and a different success story. At the end of this “first half” everyone works with what they’ve achieved and how to apply it, and there are roughly five categories:
Health – Hopefully you’ve kept yourself in good enough shape that you can do what’s on your list. (I refuse to use the word “bucket” along with list, but you can if you like.) So, what needs to be done today and tomorrow and in the future to ensure that you continue to be the best version of you?
Wealth – You saved for your “future,” but what is it that you saved for? Perhaps a financial advisor helped you invest from your 401K or your IRA so that you can afford to do what you wish to do now? How do you see your evolving lifestyle, your places to see and things to do accordingly?
Social – What lifestyle is important to you? You know the people with whom you had to associate in your work life, and maybe you look forward to leisure time with them or doing what you liked to do before. Or maybe a warmer climate, or maybe travel to see what you have not yet seen?
Spiritual – You have values that have informed your daily activities and engagements. What is your commitment now? What is your mission now? Do you have a mountain top and a guru to whom you will seek in order to find a new meaning for you life or a way to give back from the spiritual or financial wealth you’ve accumulated?
Housing – As you’ve raised up your family and then seen them leave the “nest” one by one, your home may seem a bit empty at the end of the day when no one is coming home from school. Or it is just more work than you want to invest in keeping up what accommodated the first half of your life? Or, you’d just like to have that place on a lake?
Dare to turn your DREAM into a PLAN!
Charlotte Bishop is an Aging Life Care Advisor, Retirement Lifestyle Coach and founder of Creative Care Management, LLC, certified professionals who are geriatric advocates, resources, counselors and friends to older adults and their families in metropolitan Chicago. She also is the co-author of How Do I Know You? A Caregiver’s Lifesaver for Dealing with Dementia.
