Celebrate your Mid Life Crisis by Discovering Midlife Transformation

One day I had a date for lunch with friends. Mae, a little old 'blue hair' about 80 years old, came along with them---all in all, a pleasant bunch. When the menus were presented, we ordered salads, sandwiches, and soups, except for Mae who said, 'Ice Cream, please. Two scoops, chocolate.'

I wasn't sure my ears heard right, and the others were aghast.
'Along with heated apple pie,' Mae added, completely unabashed.
We tried to act quite nonchalant, as if people did this all the time.
But when our orders were brought out, I didn't enjoy mine.
I couldn't take my eyes off Mae as her pie a-la-mode went down.
The other ladies showed dismay. They ate their lunches silently and frowned.

The next time I went out to eat, I called and invited Mae.
I lunched on white meat tuna. She ordered a parfait.
I smiled. She asked if she amused me.
I answered, 'Yes, you do, but also you confuse me.
How come you order rich desserts, while I feel I must be sensible?
She laughed and said, with wanton mirth, 'I'm tasting all that is Possible.

I try to eat the food I need, and do the things I should.
But life's so short, my friend, I hate missing out on something good.
This year I realized how old I was. (She grinned) I haven't been this old before.'
'So, before I die, I've got to try those things that for years I had ignored.
I haven't smelled all the flowers yet. There are too many books I haven't read.
There's more fudge sundaes to wolf down and kites to be flown overhead.

There are many malls I haven't shopped. I've not laughed at all the jokes.
I've missed a lot of Broadway hits and potato chips and cokes.
I want to wade again in water and feel ocean spray on my face.
I want to sit in a country church once more and thank God for His grace.
I want peanut butter every day spread on my morning toast.
I want un-timed long distance calls to the folks I love the most.

I haven't cried at all the movies yet, or walked in the morning rain.
I need to feel wind in my hair. I want to fall in love again
So, if I choose to have dessert, instead of having dinner,
then should I die before night fall, I'd say I died a winner,
because I missed out on nothing. I filled my heart's desire.
I had that final chocolate mousse before my life expired.'
With that, I called the waitress over... 'I've changed my mind, '
I said. 'I want what she is having; only add some more whipped cream!'

Live well, love much & laugh often - Be happy.
Be mindful that happiness isn't based on possessions, power, or prestige,
but on relationships with people we love and respect.
Remember that while money talks, CHOCOLATE SINGS!



author unknown, a Friday story from "My daily insights."

You have been talking your position for years - it's time to do something about it.

Many of us remember the activism of the '60s. The marches, the banners and signs, and the black or red-white-blue armbands. There are still activists on the streets today doing much the same thing.

We defined our identity during that earlier period through rebellion. Today we are once again in an identity change. This time we already have enough individual identity to write a personal definition.

It is time to grow beyond societies strictures and accomplish all that is possible. You can make wise choices on what to accomplish with your own life.

"Adversity cause some men to break; others to break records."
William Arthur Ward

What is needed is a helicopter view of society, get above the bustle of slogans and instead manage the substance of bureaucratic power shifts.

You know the system, you have played the games, it is time for chess rather than hopscotch.

You can change the world -- not as a number in a crowd scene, but as an individual with vision and experience.

You only lose energy when life becomes dull in your mind.
Your mind gets bored and therefore tired of doing nothing.
Get interested in something!
Get absolutely enthralled in something!
Get out of yourself!
Be somebody!
Do something.
The more you lose yourself in something bigger than yourself,
the more energy you will have.
- Norman Vincent Peale -

You can do this thing.

So do it.

It is time to hike to the mountain peak on a path of your own choosing. Take that step away from the security of an already conquered profession and step out on a quest. Make the rest of your life a challenge rather than a sequel.

You no longer have to create just to succeed, you can create to change. You have discovered that titles and money do not bring fulfillment. What does fulfill is personal, not external.

Consider changing your personal definition of success. Live up to your potential.

THINK,
don't follow.

You may not need to create a charitable foundation, but you probably want to create an ethical company that serves a need.

Do it.

Our shared future is a race between catastrophe and innovation.

Contribute your experience and capabilities by innovation. You just might be the difference that decides the race.

You have spent the first half of your life developing a deep understanding of systems and analysis within your field. Take a look, other fields seek similar goals but use different systems and analysis frameworks.

Take what you know, apply it to something new, and you will change that new field.

There are other techniques of innovation, but most carry this same style. Find two pieces that haven't been put together and find a way to make them fit.

You can accomplish something important.

"Reaching peak performance in business or life requires a mind that elevates you. But true success also requires a place to go. That's where purpose comes in. With purpose, you're able to maintain your peak performance for a long time." -- Zig Ziglar

If you haven't yet considered your personally chosen life purpose, don't take this lightly. Maybe it is time to close your browser, grab a notebook and pen, or your pda, and take a walk.

There are bound to be trials and tribulations in your life, everyone has them. One of the greatest costs of these trials is when we let them stop us from continuing our pursuit of a goal. Once the trial is past we have to restart our life, and frequently take a different path than we were on. Starting over takes time and effort.

A powerful personal Purpose can overcome that tendency to lose the progress we have made.

Your purpose is a focal point on the horizon that you can use to guide your journey. Like goals, your purpose can change, but that should only happen when you have spent a great deal of time considering alternatives.

If your self chosen purpose is to put missionaries in the field, that is not likely to change. If your purpose is to travel around the world and teach; your meeting of a significant other and starting a family will probably re-order your priorities, your goals, and your purpose.

This is a personal choice, something that you know has the power to keep you walking when the night turns stormy.

Find a driving purpose and cherish it. If you will not relinquish it to despair it will help guide you to your journeys end.

Your well defined purpose can make the difference between a normal life spent in quiet despair, and a quality life well spent.

A life well spent is a good life

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100% of direct income from my lenses goes to micro-finance solutions for world poverty provided by the Grameen Foundation. The Grameen Foundation is creating a rising tide of positive influence upon our world.



Will YOUR life be based on what you want to use it to accomplish, or by random urges of what you want to do?

"We hear fables about the past, we develop dreams of the future, but the work needs to be done today." - Allan R. Wallace