Reflections from a Third Chapter Elder

I live in the third and last chapter of my life.

Or, that’s the way I see it at the age of 75.

It’s only in the last two years, that I viscerally accepted that I am going to die someday.  And, in the not too distant future. Now I find myself more and more thinking about life, how I have lived it, and how I want to live it in the years remaining.

Taking time for this reflection is actually useful, and pleasurable…and necessary. Continue reading

3 Life Lessons We Learn Too Late

Amazing how the entering into third chapter living promotes the notion of “knowing what I know now, I wish I had…”

Here’s three things I can share from my reflections on 75 years.

1. How you treat your body has consequences later in life. Staying flexible and eating healthy foods does matter. Really.

2. Doing things perfectly is not the perfect prescription for success it was cut out to be.

3. I am really OK and always have been.  So are you.

THE EXTRA BONUS:  It’s never too soon or too late to sit down and reflect on your own 3 or 6 or 10 lessons, and apply your own wisdom.

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Third Chapter Consciousness: Key to successful aging?

Here I am again, rolling around my obsession with this particular age stage of life yet one more time. I’ve been through “third chapter living” (too vague), third chapter curriculum (too pedantic) and “third chapter mastery” (too demanding and daunting), “third chapter mystery” (too mysterious).  My mind wishes for something that also fits my gut sense, as I personally try to be conscious to what I think and what I feel as the 75 year old solo ager I am.

Today, I took a peaceful pause out among the flowers and did absolutely nothing but enjoy the beautiful weather. In that moment of emptiness, what should pop up but the phrase “third chapter consciousness”. Continue reading