DO WHAT YOU LOVE

“Essentially what happens when you begin to do what you love is that you get a new employer: Spirit.” Sarah Ban Breathnach, Simple Abundance

I read in the Los Angeles Times that an 80 year old woman broke her leg in a parachute jump. She started jumping when she was 75. This fearless woman is representative of thousands of venturesome women in America who have passed well beyond the half-century mark. They’re blessed with good health and determined to continue what they’ve always done (or what they’ve always wanted to do.)

I don’t enjoy the concept of mortality---or jumping out of planes for that matter. However, thinking about the limited time we have on this planet, sure does focus ones attention on how to meaningfully and effectively spend the days that are left.

Human beings weren’t created to live at a frenetic pace. The hectic tempo of the modern office may suit a caffeine-soaked brain, but it may also upset our internal rhythms. Often career selection is undertaken entirely from the mind’s standpoint, and we end up doing things for hours every day (such as sitting in front of a computer screen) that further our cerebral ambitions but cause our backs to stiffen, our muscles to atrophy, our eyes to weaken. The body is not a machine external to us, its health affects our mental acuity and moods. When choosing a career path we should give some thought to the question, what does our body want to do?

You’ve had rich life experiences, you’ve acquired an extensive array of interests and abilities.  Based on your life experiences, ask yourself, who are you? What do you like? What you do well? By making choices that fit your personal values, skills and ideal work environment, you will achieve lasting satisfaction and a sense of self-worth . What things interest you most? What skills give you the most satisfaction and energy?

Ask yourself, what did you want to be when you were a little girl---before someone insensitive someone told you it wasn’t possible and that no one makes money doing it?”

Start where you are and begin your future now. Create a sense of safety, increasing creativity, uncovering purpose, and staying motivated. Take stock of your present options and create a vision for your future. When you feel discouraged, talk to a supportive, interested friend, keep a journal, honor your body and reward yourself daily.

Consider creating a bridge between your spirituality and your life’s work. This means taking the essence of who you are and what you believe into your work space. If kindness, patience, honesty and generosity are spiritual qualities that you believe in , make every effort to practice them in what you do.

LET'S PLAY

Laughter lightens the mood, puts things in perspective, heals the troubled heart...And the more we take ourselves lightly, the more our spirit soars. So let us age into laughter. It may be the greatest gift we can give to others, and it can also heal us." Drew Leder, M.D.

As we grow older do we need to grow more serious? Do we need to stop being playful and young spirited? Ask yourself what gives you pleasure and delight? Have you forgotten?  Did you leave your inner child behind at the playground?

Your need to play doesn’t diminish with age. No self-help book, Indian guru, or bossy sister can tell you what will give you pleasure. To find what gives you joy you have to discover it for yourself by listening to your inner child’s urges. Sometime during each day I’ve learned to ask myself, “Have you done anything fun yet?”

We all want to live longer and happier so we need to laugh at ourselves more and get out and play. Someone once wrote, “If you laugh...you last!”. That’s true. I remember my 75 year old grandmother playing games with us like Parchessi and Canasta. She even got down on the floor with us to shoot marbles. I also remember my 70+ year old friends, Len and Tita who once got together with a small bunch of friends to skip around silly at a local playground like escapees from the loony bin.

I got an email a few days ago that said, “You don’t stop laughing because you grow old, you grow old because you stop laughing.” There is no doubt that a sense of play and a sense of humor are essential to aging successfully.

Try to put more fun in your life, develop a sense of humor, seek adventure, remain curious and take seriously your inner child’s need to play!