PLAN ON WORKING OVERTIME
Saturday Aug. 12, 2017
Work, investment, mentoring, volunteering, writing, speaking, paying – all contributions our bodies, minds and wallets could/should continue to do. We shouldn’t get a free pass just because we had a significant birthday – flipping overnight from being a contributor to society to being a drain on it …
We, and I mean the collective we, hold somewhat fatalistic views on our limitations – what our minds, bodies and determination can accomplish in our lives. And not to say I don’t occasionally doubt my dreams and aspirations …
Living well. Thriving. Mentally and physically, pulling my own weight.
I believe the biggest single problem of ‘baby boomers’ – slacking off in the third period (think hockey) of the game of life.
Too easy methinks, taking it easy, taking too much credit for our many years of work/contribution (we were just doing our jobs, raising families, cheering teams, criticizing politicians – our job, our obligation, our right) and, not taking ownership of this final 1/3rd of our game.
Yes, entitled to our entitlements to slow down or retire – government programs, supports, health care – but should we shed our responsibility for ongoing contribution? Or, more importantly, should feel obliged to sit on the bench?
Each time I read another obit – someone near my age or younger, like felled saplings – taken out by disease or lifestyle or stupidity of someone else’s drunk driving, each time I read about someone knocked from fast lane to ditch my some dementia form or taking their own life, I cringe a bit.
Then I sleep, stop cringing, get back to work – because this last 1/3rd of what we plan will be empty wasted time unless we grab it by its horns and make it, shape it, will it … into our own creations.
And after that third third is gone – most people will view us like empty milk cartons, beyond our ‘best before date’, we can still keep going, and going beyond that – we can a few laps of the track left in us.
I still dream like I’m 26, work like I’m 36, play like I’m 46, use experience of being 56, ignore that I’m really 66, sights set on living to 106.
Like in hockey, sometimes the third period is sometimes followed by overtime …
Reader feedback:
END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT
Too bad you couldn’t mass e-mail your comments to the US House of Representatives and the Senate and everyone in his administration!!, DG, Edmonton, AB
