I recently read a story in Susan Crandall's inspiring book
"Thinking About Tomorrow – Reinventing Yourself at Midlife"
about a man named George O. George earned a degree in
horticulture, worked for the USDA, and later had a thriving
career in the banking industry. He had been successful in
all of his careers, but none were his passion. To the
amazement of his friends and family, George left banking
and bought a small-town zoo. He is now a happy zookeeper,
passionate about his new life.
What made George reinvent himself in his mid-forties? A
wake-up call came when his brother-in-law was killed in a
plane crash. This made him realize: "I could die tomorrow
and miss out on something I really wanted to do." This is
George's lesson from his reinvention:
"Owning a business can mean longer hours than you'd ever
imagined working, but suddenly that's more than okay.
There's a new calculus when you're doing something you
love."
Midlife reinvention is becoming the passion of many of us
baby boomers, who are finally willing to listen to that
quiet inner voice telling us it's time to move on and find
a life we truly love - before it's too late. I, too, chose
to listen to my inner voice and left a corporate job I had
for 24 years. I now consider myself happily "unemployable".
Owning and operating two businesses is stressful and
exhausting at times - but I would never trade my new life
for the old one. I prefer having the freedom to make up my
life as I go along.
Do you feel that you're gifted or talented in a particular
area, but you've never had the time to find out if you're
right? Is there something you've been dreaming about doing
your entire life, but have been too busy raising children
and paying the mortgage to give it a fighting chance? There
comes a time in our lives when we realize that it doesn't
matter how gifted, talented, or attracted we are to
something if we choose to ignore it and bury our heads in
the routine of everyday life. And then the question in your
mind becomes, "How old is too old to pursue my dream?"
Here's another example of midlife reinvention or
re-creation, from Positive Thinking Magazine, Jan/Feb 2007.
Judi W. retired from a successful 20-year career to pursue
her lifelong dream of becoming a flight attendant - at the
age of 62. This was her second new career. At the age of 42
she earned her funeral director license. Although she loved
taking care of people, it was difficult moving up in that
male-dominated field. However, she worked hard and became
the first female funeral director at the company she worked
for. This experience gave her the confidence she needed to
move into her real dream career as a flight attendant. Now
she flies 12 legs over four days, then has 10 days off.
Judi says, "By the end of the 10 days, I'm chomping at the
bit to get back to work". Here are Judi's tips on how to do
what you love and love what you do.
"You're never too old! I took on new careers at 42 and 62."
"Look out for #1. When you take care of yourself, no one
else will need to."
"Have an attitude of gratitude. Be grateful for everything
you've been given."
If you're thinking about re-creating your life, here are
some thoughts for you to consider.
Seeing your life as little and insignificant doesn't serve
yourself or anyone else. Recreating yourself may be just
the thing you need to do to serve the world. You were born
with the power to create yourself in whatever manner you
choose. However, the changes you want must be done through
you - not to you. No one outside of you can give you a
magic potion that will bring you the results you are
looking for. These results must be earned by your
willingness to see in new ways and by letting go of old,
limiting beliefs.
If you're looking for peace in your decision to make the
changes necessary to recreate yourself, first find the
peace within yourself by finding your truth. Your strength
to make life changes comes from knowing yourself and what's
true for you. What compels you to live fully and
passionately? If you can't find your truth, then the time
may not be right to make a drastic change in your life.
Making changes at the wrong time can lead to stress; and
stress robs you of your peace, good health, and well being.
In my life, I have found that anything that feels stressful
is not a right decision. If you already feel physically ill
and overly stressed, anxious, nervous, and unable to
function at your full capacity, consider waiting and
reevaluating the changes you're considering. The time may
be right at a later date.
Take it one step at a time. Drastic changes are difficult
to undo. It may be best to take baby steps on the way to
your re-creation. If it's a career change, you may need to
take a vacation and spend part of it "walking in someone's
shoes" who is already doing what you think you want to do.
There is nothing like the education of actually doing the
work of your aspired profession. There are resources on the
internet that offer "career tryouts", which would place you
in a volunteer internship lasting 1 to 30 days. This would
allow you to be a silent observer or active participant,
depending on your level of skills and courage.
Be aware of how this re-creation will affect the parts of
your life that are most important to you. It's likely that
a career or life change will take a great deal of your
time, at least in the beginning stages. If spending time
with your family and friends is a high priority for you
right now, consider this in the choices you make about
career directions.
Be willing to face and embrace the unknown. Trying to look
too far ahead may keep you right where you are. If I had
known what was ahead of me, I'm not sure I would have made
the decisions I made. I would have missed out on my new
life that holds all the unlimited possibilities of freedom
and abundance.
Contrary to what the media would have you believe, there's
plenty of time to re-create your new life. Remember, it's
the feeling behind the form that tells you what you really
want. Consider this - if you can find a way to create that
feeling right now, your steps to creating your new life
will come easier and more quickly, if you decide to move
forward.
----------------------------------------------------
Sandy Reed, Certified Life Coach, ex-corporate manager, and
small business owner, is the coach to call for support when
you're ready to break out of the corporate prison, and
create a life of freedom and flexibility. Visit her website
at http://www.innerclaritylifecoaching.com for more tools
and information and to sign-up for her free mini-ecourse "7
Steps to Personal Power".
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