It’s less than 6 months until the big 5-0. It’s safe to say that I’m freaking out a little. How did I get to this point in life so quickly? Wasn’t it just yesterday I was wearing neon and buying Aqua Net?
As I’m nearing this milestone in life, I’m on a mission to better myself and to make this next half of my life even better than the first. My goal is to be better at 50 than I was at 40. And I have less than six months in which to accomplish this feat.
Of course, I strive to be in better shape physically and mentally, but I also want to have stronger relationships and to live with more purpose.
What inspired this thinking?
A very painful and swollen pinky finger….
Allow me to explain.
I first noticed this rouge finger a few days ago. As with all ailments, I googled it. I self-diagnosed my painful swollen finger as having arthritis. The horror! Not only does it hurt physically ( I can’t fathom how so many people deal with this every day), my feelings are hurt. All of a sudden, I feel so old! There are many things about aging that aren’t kind. This arthritic finger has thrown me for a loop.
I read that dairy and wine, along with many other things, are triggers for arthritis. I’ve been pretty heavy on both the wine and cheese lately- not overly heavy- but these are things I can definitely live without.
As I sipped my coffee, I had a thought. Actually, the thought was more like a shout that echoed in my mind.
Does this serve me?
And I’m not necessarily talking about the coffee…
Besides too much coffee, dairy, and wine, I do many things that don’t serve me on a daily basis. My responses to things aren’t always as they should be. My priorities are not always in proper order, I could be more financially responsible, and the list goes on….
I realized that I could easily make better choices if I were to ask myself this one question more often.
“Does this serve me?’ would probably serve me very well if asked before doing or thinking anything. It could apply to every situation.
“Does this serve me?” was, no doubt, a thought planted by God.
So, I didn’t drink my second cup of coffee this morning. That’s a start. I put a sticky note on my planner to remind me to ask that one question before doing anything. It will be interesting to see how this simple redirection will improve my life. I have the expectation that this will be a very good thing for me.
Today I’m feeling (a little) thankful for that arthritic finger. When I do turn 50 soon, I may not be better physically as there is no escaping the aging process- or arthritis. But I can promise that I will be better in so many different areas as I continue my quest for personal growth.
Hopefully, by the time I am 60, I will be able to look back and see that I have curated a life full of experiences and habits that have served me well.
