It is never too late to realize
Summer Lotus 14th Feb 2021 3 min read
Time is running out.
I am 63 and feel that there is so much more to savor in life, so much learning to do, and so much hidden potential in each one of us to develop.
I concede that I have wasted a large part of my life in doing nothing or feeling lost. Much time mulling and mucking around shopping centers after work when there was nothing to buy, no aim in sight.
Fortunately, I did dabble in some sports though they were only recreational and I have also traveled quite a bit. Until, I started reading and then went into writing, I realized that my life could be greatly enriched this way.
Reading made me realise that there is a lot of wisdom to be acquired from other people and those before us.
It made me realize that the world has transformed, people are different now and to keep up with the current changes in the world, reading is a must. Ultimately, one still has to depend on oneself to solve any problems as not many people can be at our disposal.
It made me realise that true happiness is being the best I can be and these ideas come from people smarter than me whom I can emulate. When one goal is reached, we have to set new goals to move on.
I follow top writers on Medium based on their fan size. Some like Thomas Oppong, Niklas Goke, Ayojedi Awosika and Ryan Holiday, etc have followers in five or six figures and they share valuable insights about life.
It is not too old to learn though I hear this repeatedly from my peers who seemed to be dimming their inner lights where taking challenges and learning is concerned. “We are so old already, just relax”, many quipped.
As if staying free from new knowledge would render them free from stress. The world will continue to stump you and make you feel ignorant if you don’t go with the flow. Learning is a privilege of being alive.
At this juncture, my strategy is as follows;
1 Good use of time to learn something new or become better in any particular technique that I am weak in where my career is concerned. After all, people get better through practice.
2 Learn something creative and mind-stimulating— whether related to work or not, a new skill, a foreign language, an interesting hobby will just make us more versatile other than our bread and butter work. It may launch a second career.
3 Look for mentors— I look for mentors, young or old, as long as they are willing to teach me, I will be all ears and make a good student. I believe that I can also share my unique knowledge and experiences as an exchange.
4 Acquire a balance outlook—-In the large part of my life, much time was also spent on building a family, revolving around children’s development, idling, and earning money to reach a point where one can say, “Enough, it’s time to chill”. The kids have grown, the business ongoing and perspectives and priorities must change.
Now is the time to balance all that hard work by nourishing oneself having me-alone time, getting back to basics which are, first of all, a simpler life and courting nature and extending a hand to those who have fallen behind us in this race of life.
My belly is still filled with fire. When the pandemic blows over, I will want to travel more to widen my outlook. They are a source of my writing. My aim to run a successful group practice is ongoing so that I could eventually pass the baton to deserving junior partners to entrust them with my loyal patient base. I want to be a barrel of knowledge, not an empty vessel who can dispense and share useful tips about life and life hacks to those who are interested in my sharing.
I think that would be a life quite meaningfully lived, in my small way.
more reading at medium.com under Summer Lotus@rosalindho
Leave a Reply