Hello and Good Day. Hope You are continuing to enjoy your Summer days and doing well!
Appreciate You taking the time to stop by and read the article!
Tom Grover, (author of ‘Relentless’ and ‘Winning’), writes of his talk with Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat on the eve of Game Five of 2012 NBA finals; ” in order to have what you really want, you must first be who you really are.”
His message was to instill in Dwyane Wade that is was not about the lights or hype or keeping everyone else happy. It was about all he did through his life to get to this point in his career and to trust what he felt inside, not what everyone else was telling him to feel.
Similarly, as we prepare, make the leap and move through our Encore phase of Life, it’s important for us to trust ourself and all the work we did through our years to get to this point in our Life -and- to enjoy what we built!
For decades, the dominant narrative about retirement, (aging), sounded something like: finish your career, collect your pension, take up golf, (or something else – I don’t golf), and fade gently into the background.
My experience with this retirement phase speaks otherwise. What I’ve experienced so far, quietly at first, but becoming more obvious—is questioning that narrative and what I may have thought I would do in my retirement. I never questioned what aging would look like since my Family has been blessed with longevity and good health well into the 90’s.
However, what I am discovering is not asking “What now?” with a sigh, but asking “What if?”
Our Encore phase can provide the opportunity for reinvention at this stage of life, if You so choose. It can be about reclaiming ownership over your energy, your time, and your sense of purpose.
Us ‘Boomers’ spent the bulk of our adult years living in service to others: raising children, supporting aging parents, climbing organizational ladders, being reliable.
We played the part of the provider, the planner, the responsible one. We built the scaffolding that held so much together, (and we may not have realized it!)
But eventually, something shifts. After the dust settles we are left with a critical question:
What do I want now?
For some people, that question feels exhilarating. For others, it feels paralyzing. But either way, it’s a moment of truth.
For some of us, that question may feel exhilarating. For others, it may be paralyzing. But either way, it’s a moment of truth.
And the truth for many is that the pursuit of stability was never the end goal. The real desire of reaching this phase of life, is to raise our level of feeling alive as we age.
We need to give ourself the OK and the Freedom to live our life fully—not because we need to prove anything, but because we (finally) understand what is important to protect – Our Time, Energy and Attention.
And most of all, we must live a version of life that fits our current self—not our past identity.
If you’re nearing your 60’s or already well into this Encore phase of life —and wondering if reinvention is still possible, here’s the simplest answer I can give:
It’s not just possible. It might be the most honest, vibrant thing you’ve done yet.
The rules are old. The expectations were made up. And the story you want to tell next? Well, that’s yours to tell!
In an earlier article I included the lyrics of one of my favorite songs; ‘Landslide’ from Fleetwood Mac. I heard this song during my workout today and as I was putting my final thoughts around this article, I thought it was appropriate to leave us with these wonderful lyrics (again):
“I took my love, I took it down
Climbed a mountain and I turned around
And I saw my reflection in the snow covered hills
‘Til the landslide brought me down
Oh, mirror in the sky, what is love?
Can the child within my heart rise above?
Can I sail through the changin’ ocean tides?
Can I handle the seasons of my life?
Mmm
Well, I’ve been ‘fraid of changin’
‘Cause I’ve built my life around you
But time makes you bolder
Even children get older
And I’m gettin’ older, too
Well, I’ve been ‘fraid of changin’
‘Cause I’ve built my life around you
But time makes you bolder
Even children get older
And I’m gettin’ older, too
I’m gettin’ older, too
Ah, take my love, take it down
Oh, climb a mountain and turn around
And if you see my reflection in the snow covered hills
Well, the landslide will bring it down
And if you see my reflection in the snow covered hills
Well, the landslide will bring it down
Oh, the landslide will bring it down“
Songwriters: Stephanie Nicks
Landslide lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Group
Continue stepping forward in our Encore phase with enthusiasm and eagerness -and- please continue to take care of yourself, make the most of your days -and- always remember;
“Never quit searching, never settle and never give up seeking your greater purpose!“
Terry's Thoughts 
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