Choosing the Right Path Early in Life

Harmony and understanding, sympathy and trust abounding. No more falsehoods or derisions, golden living dreams of visions. Mystic crystal revelation, and the mind’s true liberation. Aquarius! Aquarius!

The Fifth Dimension

Mystic Crystal Revelation

My husband, Rick, and I traveled to Ohio over the holidays to visit his two daughters, ages 15 and 20. They didn’t know I co-authored a book and as we talked about it, they both expressed an interest in having a copy. While saying, "Sure! I’ll send you each an autographed copy," I was really thinking, "By the time they have an interest in reading it in 20 to 30 years, will Jane’s and my respective journeys be relevant? Will our midlife roadmaps mean anything to them?"

Well, I don’t have a crystal ball....so I don’t know what 2030 has in store for any of us. I decided, instead, to give the young adult forward-looking version while sitting at the dining room table.  I’ll share it with you as well:

• Do something you love your entire life.  Jane and I have a mutual friend, Bea, who loves being a family law attorney. At 67, she has lots of other interests, but she doesn’t want to stop practicing family law. She gets too much joy from helping others through difficult times in their lives. Bea doesn’t describe it as a passion, but just something she loves doing. (By the way, travel is her passion!)
• It’s not about the money.  Easier said than done in this get-ahead world! But the best story I’ve heard is one we included in the book. David, once a big time lawyer, gave it all up to be a biology teacher.  He doesn’t make even half of what he used to, but he’s much more satisfied with his life now.
• Be authentic.  In our book, I describe myself as being the Reluctant Executive. Essentially, I spent 30 years "performing a life," always wondering if friends would discover this wasn’t really me. I had a lot of good times, to be sure, but when Rick asked me what I think I would have enjoyed doing my entire career, I answered "medical research." Something to satisfy the nerd in me--that drive toward problem solving and logic--while also being in touch with our common humanity. When I thought about it further, I realized that my campaign to get on the Visiting Nurses Association board was all about the mix of science and helping others....I may not be doing research but VNA is doing some really cool things here in northwest Colorado!

Perhaps if Nikki and Shannon absorb just these three points as they embark on their adult journeys, they won’t need to think about changing lanes in mid-life. Let’s hope so.

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