Month: February 2024

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Originally posted at: Guerdy Abraira’s Concealer

At a time when the saying “life is too short” resonates more deeply, the idea of settling into a stagnant existence in later years is rapidly and happily becoming obsolete!

The millennial and Z generations, with their emphasis on passion, purpose, and adaptability, have imparted invaluable lessons on the significance of embracing change for a mindful and gratifying life. The recent global pandemic, COVID-19, served as a collective wake-up call, urging individuals of all ages to reassess their lives, prioritize passions, and nurture a profound sense of purpose.

The traditional notion of unwavering loyalty between employers and employees has dissolved, ushering in a realization that lifelong commitment to a single company is no longer the norm. While this shift may unsettle some, it carries an empowering message: the freedom to choose a path aligned with personal fulfillment, even in the later stages of life.

As a life coach, I frequently guide individuals through this transformative journey, particularly those navigating their 60s and beyond. The wisdom accrued over decades, coupled with a desire for purposeful living, forms a powerful combination that can lead to a deeply fulfilling and enriching chapter.

Here, I offer comprehensive insights and advice for thriving in later years, consolidating wisdom from personal and professional experiences into insights for the most vibrant life experience ever.

Embracing Change as a Catalyst for Growth

The era of job loyalty may have waned, but this heralds an era of opportunity. Change, whether in personal or professional realms, serves as a catalyst for growth. The ability to adapt and embrace new experiences opens doors to unexpected joys and discoveries. Seize this time to explore diverse facets of life, experiment with new hobbies, and contemplate alternative career paths resonating with your passions.

Prioritizing Passion Over Permanence

I’m indebted to a college professor who imparted this invaluable wisdom: “Remember, employers are not family – never lose sight of that!” In today’s dynamic job market, placing personal well-being and fulfillment over a false sense of loyalty is essential. If a role no longer sparks your passion or a workplace is toxic, consider it a sign to explore new opportunities. Allow your passion to guide you, leading you toward pursuits that resonate with your values and truly bring you joy.

Listening to Your Heart

In the pursuit of a mindful and joyful existence, attuning to your heart becomes a compass for navigating life’s twists and turns. Your intuition often holds the answers you seek. Reflect on your desires, values, and dreams. What resonates with your authentic self? Trusting your instincts leads to decisions that align with your true purpose.

Seizing the Power of Reinvention

Life at any age is not a period for stagnation; it’s ripe for reinvention. Whether embarking on a new career, launching a business, or pursuing passion projects, later years serve as a canvas for creativity and self-discovery. Reinventing oneself fosters continuous growth and the realization of untapped potential.

Cultivating a Mindful and Joyful Existence

Mindfulness forms the cornerstone of a fulfilling life. Take moments to savor the present, cherishing its joys and learning from its challenges. Engage in activities fostering peace and purpose, whether through meditation, communing with nature, or nurturing meaningful relationships.

Actionable Steps

As a life coach, empowering clients to navigate both professional and personal challenges while gracefully aging is a profound privilege. I am often asked how I accomplish these insights. Below are steps to put into action, choose the ones that speak to you today, and in your present situation, don’t overload yourself with to-dos.

Reflect on Values and Priorities

Take a moment to look inward. What are your core values and priorities? These will be your guiding stars as you make decisions.

Assess Skills and Interests

Evaluate your skills, strengths, and passions. This will help you align your pursuits with what truly lights you up.

Set Clear Goals

Establish specific, measurable, and realistic goals. These goals will pave the way for your journey toward fulfillment.

Explore New Opportunities

Embrace curiosity and openness to new experiences. Explore new hobbies, career paths, or even entrepreneurial ventures.

Create a Vision Board

Craft a visual representation of your aspirations. This will keep you inspired and focused every day and it’s a fun creative outlet.

Network and Seek Mentors

Connect with inspiring individuals, mentors, and professionals. They’ll offer guidance and support in your personal and professional endeavors.

Develop a Plan for Skill Enhancement

Create a roadmap for acquiring new skills. Write it down or keep a running tab on your computer. Check off what you have accomplished – this will foster continuous personal and professional growth and function as a tangible tracking system.

Embrace Technology

There is no way around it! Embrace technology for personal enrichment and professional advancement. It’s a powerful tool at your disposal. Take some online classes, watch some instructional YouTube videos, etc.

Prioritize Health and Well-Being

You are nothing without your health! Your physical and mental well-being are paramount. Prioritize them for a vibrant life. Small steps can make a huge difference! Take a walk, meditate, pray, take yourself out for coffee, and get out into Mother Nature – she puts on the best show.

Celebrate Achievements

Acknowledge and celebrate your milestones. Let them fuel your sense of accomplishment and motivation. Write down what you have accomplished, even if it seems small. Reward yourself – a Mani, Pedi, sweet treat, or a night out with friends!

Consider Legacy and Impact

Reflect on the legacy you want to leave behind and the impact you wish to have. It adds purpose to your pursuits. Think about those who have passed and left an impact on your life. Celebrate what they have given you and embrace gratitude for having had them in your life!

Regular Check-ins and Adjustments

Schedule regular check-ins to track your progress, address challenges, and refine strategies as needed. Even the best intended, and strategic plans can use a reboot.

Grace, Grace, and more Grace

Never be hard on yourself! It gets you nowhere. It is OK to reevaluate and identify ways you could have done something differently, that is healthy, but to allow that to become your nagging narrative is a waste of time. Learn and move on!

Aging is not synonymous with complacency. It should represent a canvas for transformation and fulfillment. Today, individuals in their 60s and beyond possess unparalleled opportunities to craft lives aligning with their deepest aspirations and values.

By embracing change, prioritizing passion, listening to your heart, seizing reinvention, and cultivating mindfulness, you will remain forever young. Remember, it’s never too late to manifest the life you’ve long envisioned.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What changes have you embraced after age 60? What about after 70? Have they helped you feel more fulfilled? If so, in what ways?

In their shared studio, awash in sunlight, Gabriella applied oils to the canvas of a fiery sunset. She paused, regarding Marcus with a reflective gaze.

“Remember that saying, Marcus: ‘Those who have eyes, let them see.’?”

Marcus, engrossed in smoothing charcoal on a pensive face, replied, “Yes, but I’ve always found it cryptic.”

Gabriella deliberated, “Took me years to understand. When I first started out as an artist, I followed aesthetics principles meticulously, recreating every detail perfectly. Beautiful, yes, representative, true, but flat, lifeless. Then I climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro.” Her voice trailed off.

One Eye Sees, the Other Feels

Intrigued, Marcus asked, “Sounds like quite the inspirational trek?”

“It was,” Gabriella reminisced. “Standing there, dwarfed by the vastness of that majestic peak, colors weren’t simply colors anymore. They were emotions – awe, humility, wonder. I let my spirit float and felt a deep bond with everything around me. In that instant I truly saw.”

Marcus, engaged, shared his experience. “I’ve come to a similar understanding drawing people. Faces tell stories, not with strokes alone… it’s the sparkle in the eye, the subtle upturn of the lip that captures the soul rather than the outline of the form.”

Gabriella expanded, “We see with our hearts as much as with our eyes. My first Mt. Kilimanjaro sunset might’ve been compositionally correct, but now it has passion. And your portraits… when I look at them, I sense the essence of the person.”

“Thanks, Gaby,” Marcus rejoined. “Paul Klee, though not my favorite abstract painter, wrote something that has stayed with me all these years since art school, and it dovetails with what you just shared about Kilimanjaro. It’s this: ‘One eye sees, the other feels.’”

“Go on,” Gabriella coaxed.

Art Is a Revelation

“The ‘one eye’ is the objective and analytical observation of the external world – the technical aspects of art such as form, color, and structure. The ‘other eye’ is the interpretation and intuition of what is seen. It’s about accessing an artist’s inner world.”

He continued: “As an artist I try to see with two eyes by passing what I observe through my personal lens of perspective and feeling. This is why the masters have said – and I wholeheartedly agree with them – that when we make our work public, it’s a vulnerable moment because our art also reveals who we are.”

“I’ve felt that vulnerability myself, many, many times,” Gabriella responded, thoughtfully.

After a moment, she started to smile: “So who knows what kind of artwork we’ll create with both eyes fully open!?”

“We shall see (pun intended), my fellow artist-in-residence,” Marcus laughed. “Let’s raise our sights to the infinite possibilities!”

Where Valentine’s Day Factors In

Which brings us to St. Valentine’s Day, the holiday of love.

But wait a minute – What does St. Valentine’s Day have to do with Paul Klee’s saying: ‘One eye sees, the other feels?’

Well, on St. Valentine’s Day, we celebrate those nearest to our hearts – those who intimately know us, our strengths and weaknesses, and cherish us just the same. Our depth of appreciation comes from realizing that we are being seen with two eyes, a kind of perception that goes beyond surface impressions and embraces the nuanced tapestry of who we are, our entire being.

And how did this holiday of love find its way into the cultural landscape we recognize today?

As the legend goes, Roman Emperor Claudius II had decreed that young soldiers would be forbidden to marry because His Highness believed a single man made a stronger soldier. Undeterred by this edict, St. Valentine performed secret weddings. Eventually, St. Valentine’s disobedience came to light and Claudius imprisoned him.

While awaiting his fate, St. Valentine formed a friendship with the jailer’s daughter and, as the narrative goes, healed her from blindness. On the eve of his execution on February 14th, around the year 269 or 270 AD, he penned a heartfelt note to the jailer’s daughter, signing it, “From your Valentine.”

Dedicated to Love

The association of St. Valentine with romance likely began in the Middle Ages with the feast day of St. Valentine, February 14th, which also coincided with the mating season of birds. This connection led to the idea that St. Valentine’s Day should be a day dedicated to love.

The holiday gained popularity in 18th century England, where it evolved into a time of exchanging notes and tokens of affection. The tradition spread to the United States in the 19th century.

While some would argue that February 14th has today turned into a commercialized and sentimental spectacle of flowers and chocolates, there’s every reason to enhance its significance as a yearly occasion for expressing love and gratitude to all those, young and old, who we see and who see us with two eyes.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Have you made it a habit to see people with two eyes? Are you familiar with this saying? Was there a moment in your life that opened your eyes?

Originally posted at: Erika Girardi’s Brown Denim Button Down Top