I believe that our life purpose or the role we play changes according to the season of life we're in. When I was younger, my purpose was to learn and develop my talents and get an education. Then I entered a season where my main role was to raise my children and establish my family. I've had periods of my life that were all about prepping for the future, or focusing on my writing, or whatever.
But now I'm in the prime of my life (59 is a prime number, you see), and my life path is changing. I lost my job two years ago. Lately I've been pondering what I've accomplished in that two years and wondering where the time has gone. What do I have to show for it? I mean, I've accomplished a lot and I've been very busy. But have I grown or changed or developed in that time? And now, as my children are leaving the nest and my grandchildren are getting older, what do I want to do with this next phase of my life? How do I want to progress? What remains to be done that I wanted to do? How can I be of most use? What is my life asking of me right now? What would make me a better person?
I'm not sure of all the answers to those questions yet, but I keep coming back in my mind to the phrase: "A soft place to land." I think a lot of people need comfort and safety. Can I provide that in some way, whether through my gardening or my writing? In what ways can I be there to love and comfort my children and grandchildren? What service can I render? Do I have a larger role than just "being there" for them? All good stuff to think about.
There are times I get caught up in the politics going on in the world, and then times I think "The world's going to go up in flames anyway, regardless of what humans do" or "Why prepare for long-term retirement? The earth won't be habitable by the time I'm 70." But then I push all that noise aside and just think, "A soft place to land." Whatever the future holds, I know it's going to difficult. There may be war, or famine, or climate catastrophe... Whatever comes, there will always be a need for compassion and solace. How can I best equip myself to provide that, so I can ease the experience for my family and others?
People don't often leave comments on this blog, but I'd really appreciate some comments on this post. What do you think lies ahead, and how are you preparing for it? Do you see your purpose changing as you grow older? In what role do you want to serve?
