This is a HUGE month. I can’t believe I’m saying this but I turn 50 in a couple of weeks. I am still in a little denial but one thing is for sure, I do feel like the best is yet to come. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard someone in their 50’s talk about how old they are getting. Hate to say this, but the people who say this actually look old. Wonder if there’s a correlation???

Maybe I’m naive or maybe it’s because I still have four kids at home with the youngest seven and I still don’t have time to slow down yet, but I refuse to accept the notion that once you reach middle age (often referred to as the ages between 45-64), your life is pretty much the way it’s going to be. With this perspective, one’s relationships, profession, health, spirituality are what they are. It’s no wonder why so many people go through some type of midlife crisis.

So this month, I am going to dive into topics that will help anyone in their more “mature” and “experienced” years, to grab hold of and enjoy life a lot more. Because who said life for anyone over 50 should be dull? Actually, life at this age should feel like it’s just beginning. We take stock of where we have come, yes, but there is also a new sense of possibility — and dare I say adventure. Maybe like me, you feel a renewed sense to explore new goals or revisit a dream you had when you were younger but life was just too chaotic to devote time to see it happen.

Here are a few things for you to consider and some questions to pique your interest. Take a little time as you read through these and consider what your life could if you added a little more adventure to it.

What does being adventurous mean to you?

As you have that in mind, what is the thing (or things) that would fulfill that sense of adventure within you?

If you imagine yourself being happy that you accomplished one adventure in the next five years, what would that look like?

What is stopping you from getting started? Is it really stopping you?

Despite whatever perceived roadblock you may have, what can you do to move past it to get started?

What ideas/dreams did you have in your 20s, 30s?

What do you think about those ideas now? Still possible to pursue them now?

What’s one adventurous thing you could do before the end of this year that would make you happy?

For some, these questions will be easy to answer, but for others, it may be difficult. If you are struggling with answering these, it’s okay. For parents, caregivers—and others who have been overwhelmed and trying to keep up with life’s busy-ness—it may be harder to tap into these ideas because you’ve been so busy taking care of the most immediate need to explore your own.

Give yourself some time to think through these questions and find something that will spark your sense of adventure — it’s worth it! Whether it’s restoring a relationship, setting a new goal, getting your life right with God, or trying something new, a sense of adventure is something we all need to really feel alive, especially if we are middle age.

I would love to know your thoughts on this topic so please send me a message. And if someone over 50 comes to mind, pass along my blogs this month so they too can rediscover their sense of adventure and be challenged to rethink their middle age years

Your Virtual Life Mentor,

Doug