I am beginning to feel middle aged.

My eldest child left home to go to University a few weeks ago. Friends of mine are in the same position, some of them being empty nesters already. Given that in my mind’s eye I am still in my 20s, this is something of an alarming wake up call for me.

I wonder perhaps if it is time for me to start acting my age?

I have a friend (for my own safety I will withhold the name!) who is still in his 40s but acts like he is approaching 100! He is starting to dress and talk differently. Despite his health being perfect, everything about him is slower, he talks of how things were when he was younger. I can almost see his posture change as he settles into life as the elder statesman. 

The Earth is 4,540,000,000 years old. Humankind really has only flourished as the dominant species for the last 10,000 years and each of us as individuals only gets to live for perhaps 100 years, if we are lucky.  That’s the equivalent of a pretty small drop in the ocean of time – we have each perhaps 1 50 millionth of our planet’s lifespan to make our mark and make a difference. It may not be a long time, but let’s remember that Alexander The Great conquered kingdoms and changed the course of history and he died aged only 32!

2,000 years ago the Roman philosopher Seneca said: It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it. Life is long enough, and a sufficiently generous amount has been given to us for the highest achievements if it were all well invested. … So it is: we are not given a short life but we make it short… Life is long if you know how to use it.

I wonder if I am making the most of my time?

People often say if I had my life to live over again I would do this or that. Well I am slightly over 50 years old now – things going well, that means that I have potentially got my whole lifetime again, still ahead of me – but even better, I don’t have to spend the next first 20 years growing from baby through to adult! I have 50 fully developed, fully functional (hopefully) years ahead. Surely this is my time now to make sure I am making my mark? 

So away with the pipe and slippers – I’m off to a rave!

You are never too young or old to make a change in your life. What will you do with the precious time that’s been given to you?

If you need inspiration, check out our Facilitator Stories. Discover how a mother of five, Colette, has rediscovered her sense of self worth and inspired those around her through Living LIFT. Follow the below link for the full story. 

Colette's Story