Second Wind After 50
Archeology says, during Stone Age days, 25 was a ripe age. That's too soon, isn't it? Interesting, just a little over a century ago, 50 is already considered elderly. It's a different number nowadays.
I'm in my "second wind" these days being in my 50s. I just feel different. A radical departure to an old script in which it's assumed everything goes downward for those advancing in age.
Traditional model of retirement does not apply to me. I seem to be hitting my greatest strides only this later portion of life. For I continue to do visible, productive, and relevant work.
I constantly ask my self as a psychotherapist, "Am I effectively capitalizing my life experiences, knowledge and wisdom, in helping others?"
This perhaps may sound arrogant to you. But the clients - individuals, couples, and families - I've so far helped appreciated the wisdom and lived experiences I shared with them.
They expressed how much they value that they know their therapist is real.
Now, this is not to brag or I love talking about myself. I just want to share with you my own journey of finding a special discovery that could be helpful to you as age advances.
Longevity scholar Laura Carlstensen believes that humans catch the "second wind" once they hit 50 in which ...
"the first 50 years could be spent learning and shaping ourselves into the kind of people who can spend our next 50 years giving back to our community"
The "second wind" is reinventing one's self. A time to decide how to make a difference with your limited time, given your strengths, resources, and natural limits.
It's never too late or you're never too old to live your best, meaningful life ever.
As C.S. Lewis put it, "You're never too old to set another goal, or to dream a new dream."