Well, it’s been just over a year since I attended Owning Wisdom with Chip and 29 other wonderful folks in Baja. As I reflect on the past 12+ months, I can honestly say that reading “Learning to Love Midlife” and attending MEA in Baja have been the catalysts for me to move through some transitions with greater insight and understanding. And to create more depth in my day to day life with tools I learned in Baja.
What follows are my 8 Sparks of Self Discovery for the year. If you think about it, the research-based “bonus chapter” we get at this age now lasts a good three decades longer than our great grandparents experienced. I relish in this knowledge, and I approached the things I did this past year+ with even greater enthusiasm.
Thanks for letting me share these reflection sparks, and if they resonate with you, use them and share them with others. Then wisdom becomes the gift that keeps on giving.
1)Take Time Off – You Choose How Much Time
I took a year off. I gave myself a year to look and experience and read and educate and travel. I know everyone may not be able to take a whole year off, but my plan worked. Even if you have a long weekend, or a week or month away from your daily life to focus on the here and now, where you’d like to be next, or whatever you are contemplating; taking time off, away from regular daily life is so important. It’s tough to get clarity or to dream while inside our regular routines.
2) Read, Travel, Nap, Search, Repeat
I read many books. I learned to reframe where I am in my life. I highly recommend that you commit to a period of time just for yourself to explore. After MEA Baja, I also travelled to Toronto, throughout the US, including oceans and mountains. I stared at countless clouds.
3) Exercise, Movement, Meditation, and a Healthy Lifestyle
I have been devoted to wellness and exercise all of my life. It is my oxygen. I have been a yoga practitioner for 30 years. Was a personal trainer in my 20’s. I meditate daily. But the bonus round has taken my commitment to a healthy lifestyle to a whole new level! My recipe for a healthy lifestyle is to mix up the elements daily. So that I stretch, strengthen, sweat, meditate and cook foods from the rainbow of colors.
4) Play, Create, and Have FUN!
This has been such a playground for me! Just can’t get enough of this piece. I took an Improv class, guitar lessons, and took on a deeper culinary focus that totally lit me up. Went back to what I adored in my youth which was dance and movement. So, I’ve gone back to dance and take a regular weekly dance class along with Salsa dancing with a live band on the weekends, which totally makes me feel alive and vibrant. My latest love is drumming. I bought some pre-owned and well-loved drums: a conga and a quinto. Started taking a Master Class online with Sheila E. I’ve ALWAYS wanted to be in a band, and somehow, I’ll get there.
5) Midlife Edit
Choosing to keep things in life that I enjoy and eliminate those things that no longer serve me. This was fantastic and very freeing….opening more bandwidth. After years of working and raising kids and taking on community service projects and volunteer organizations, and attending book clubs and, and, and…I stopped pretty much all of it. Now I can add back if and when I choose, but from a different vantage point. By editing things, I felt I was doing, I also edited people I was spending time with. Now there are fewer people, but even more depth.
6) Have a Personal Board of Directors
I’ve always believed in this. I keep a short list of the people, friends and family who I can reach out to and brainstorm. People who will have my back and whom I can count on. Each may have slightly different views and ideas which is fabulous; but they all care about me and my well-being. I’ve edited and deepened this group of people.
7) Have More Intergenerational Friendships
All of my elders are gone now. Having friends who are older than me has provided a link to an important comfort that I miss. These relationships are like having a warm blanket to wrap myself in.
8) Perhaps an Interim Project as you Decide “What’s Next?”
While I have given myself a year off, I’ve done some consulting and pro bono work when the need arises. I ask myself, “What’s needed of me now?”, and the answer is, time for self and generosity to others. Be okay with what is. Have enough. Bring Joy into the daily. Mindful gratitude.
-Lee
Lee Morgan Brown has been a working Mom to three sons in Northern California. She has worked as an Executive Director and consultant to Nonprofits for decades. Her bandwidth is now greater with one bird out of the nest and two more almost there. ….she’s merely “holding the space” while she transitions to “What’s Next?”, where the nouns may not reflect what family role she played (Mom), what career positions she’s had (Executive Director) or committees she’s served on.