How Do You Picture Your Next Chapter?
Imagine this: A researcher watches a five-year-old girl draw a picture of her extended family. The girl grabs bright-colored crayons and carefully draws her smiling parents, brother, and sister in the middle of the paper.
Then she reaches for dark gray to sketch her grandparents, smaller and off to the side.
(Oh my.)
When a friend first told me this some 20 years ago, I thought it held an important insight about growing older. Now that I’m a good bit into my sixties, it has a whole different meaning. (Let’s just say I’m going to make darned sure my grandchildren go for the bright crayons when they draw me!)
What will you make of these years?
These days we’re living longer, healthier lives than ever before. So each of us can have a “second act” ... even the chance to reinvent ourselves in a way that is more energized, more authentic, and more fulfilling than anything we’ve done before.
What that looks like depends on who you are (and not on what’s going on around you). Here’s what I mean ...
When you let who you are shine clearly — when you show up as your distinctive, idiosyncratic you — whatever you’re doing becomes more significant, to you and to others. (And more fun and inspiring.)
In other words, when you pay attention to the power of your presence, and fully express who you are, you begin to create the world you want. And something else happens, too ...
For most people, such full self-expression — and the contribution to the world that goes with it — has been put off for decades. What a loss, to them and to those around them.
So where is your contribution to be found?
In their quest to make a difference, some folks plunge into the social sector and civic arena — and many do find that even more significant than the careers and businesses they spent decades building.
That’s no surprise. After all, they’re putting into action who they are, what they stand for, and their hopes for the future. They’re connecting themselves to other people and to generations yet to come. (And what could be more satisfying than that?)
But there are other paths, just as rewarding. What I want you to take away is that you don’t have to accept the boxes that others will put around how you “should” be spending your next years.
Actually, I urge you to get all feisty about this.
Dig out that “Question Authority” bumpersticker and ask yourself whether the “volunteer role” you’ve just been offered is truly your heart’s desire ...
... whether responding to other’s demands is going to take you where you want to go ...
... or whether it’s time for you to take charge — and get really clear on how you want to contribute to the kind of world you want, for yourself and for those around you.
The way I see it, the key to making your greatest contribution is to keep alive your distinctive personal passion, no matter what others may say they expect of you.