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In whatever form it is that you know the creative source of all things (God, Higher Power, Allah, etc.), one thing is certain, this is Higher Being is growing, creating and evolving. Created in his/her image and likeness, we were meant to live every minute in the same way so that we may help enlarge the greater good.
It is incorrect thinking to believe we should put ourselves out to pasture at a certain age and live the rest of our lives in Margaritaville. That is just bullsh*t, a marketing ploy of sorts to get us to save money, invest in the stock market, buy second homes, etc..
This past Hallowing night, my dear friend and mentor, former Colorado Governor Roy Romer, celebrated his ninetieth birthday. He spent his day celebrating by touring the state and urging voters to cast a ballot in the midterm elections. Governor Romer knows he is much closer to his end than to his beginning, but that didn’t stop him from spending his energy towards improving his community.
Another case in point is the ninety-four-year-old former USA President Jimmy Carter. Carter is well known for his work building homes for Habitat for Humanity, but he took this a step further in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. After criticizing the handling of the aftermath, he helped rebuild homes in Louisiana. Carter did the same in the areas affected by Hurricane Sandy. He has partnered with other presidents to help the victims in the Gulf Coast and Texas communities affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. The Former President has published and continues to write books about American values and continues teaching Sunday school at his church.
Former US Senator and astronaut John Glenn (the first American to orbit our planet), served his country in this political office for twenty-four years. During his last year, at seventy-seven years of age, he flew as part of the Discovery space shuttle STS-95 mission and became the oldest person to fly in space.
So, WTF are you doing with your life? Are you still growing, creating and contributing? Do you think playing golf, taking cruises and awaiting happy hour so you can marinate in your martinis living? This is a slow decay to death. Why take a number and linger in God’s waiting room when you can live a full life all the way to your last breath. Living a full life is the lesson Romer, Carter, Glenn and many others teach us.
Conclusion
We are the best we can be now; the Universe conspired with us by giving experiences that have helped us evolve. It is not time to stop growing for, although our bodies may age, our spirit and intellect can still flourish. Why slow them down? Wouldn’t that be a waste?
It is not too late to find your passion, but you may have to work a bit to find it. Get out there and search for it, this is your hero’s journey.
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Originally published on guillermovidal.me
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