Now over 75, I’m experiencing my “third chapter living,” a bit more intensely. Maybe intense is not the word. Maybe with a new convergence of a slower pace and a consciousness of “remaining years,” I have simply found more purpose and more focus.
However, I was reminded at the gym today that this “prompt” of remaining years can come at any age. Striking up a conversation with a beautiful and overweight woman, persistently doing her routine on a Nautilus machine, I wondered out loud how long she had been coming and what her motivation might be.
She had already lost over 100 pounds in a year and was continuing to fight for another 50. While she was following the model of her mother, who had achieved the same goal, she was really driven by her own vision. She wanted to be able to play with her son, now 9, something she hadn’t been able to do at her previous weight of 300 pounds. At 35, her particular “remaining years” deadline is extremely focusing. Her son would likely be leaving home in another 8 – 10 years and she wanted quality time with him while he was around.
I was touched and inspired by her commitment and by the beauty emerging from her diminishing excess poundage.
Entering 2016, I set my priority intention for health. I want to move more gracefully and stand more tall and increase my stamina for the remainder of my days. I want that for all of the likely 15 years of those days that I hope to have. Over the years, my diligence in this regard with a regular exercise program has been very uneven. And that’s a disappointment and a regret.
However, since “sooner than later” has become my mantra for so many, many things, I notice that my focus on creating the habits with which I actually intend to live, has significantly increased. Gathering advice from a variety of sources, I am creating a program for myself that I want to do, and will be easy for me to do, starting with the personal trainer at the YMCA.
I’ll no doubt be checking in to report.
What is it that YOU want to do before it is too late?
How will YOU create for yourself a way to live out any of your remaining day intentions—starting today?