The 10 Must-Do’s of Middle Age

Steve Jobs, one of America’s most influential innovators and business entrepreneurs, passed away at age 56.  Midlife.  And we grieved at his life seemingly cut short.  Not many people ever imagine life ending at 56 or anywhere near it. When most of us think of dying, we imagine ourselves old and gray and passing away peacefully. If we are lucky, that is. But in midlife, we palpably see we have more asphalt behind us than in front of us and that the end is coming.  Some guys go into midlife crisis mode.  But that doesn’t have to be you.  Midlife is a time for re-evaluation and re-energization, if you have purpose and meaning.  Here are the 10 Must-Do’s of Midlife to help you finish well.

1. Make Health a Priority

   What we eat, how we deal with stress, how we exercise or don’t exercise, all will go a long way in determining how vibrant we are in midlife. It is not much fun striking out on a big adventure only to have to stop after the first mile to sit down and rest. By now we all know the best ways to take care of our bodies. Put that knowledge into practice.

2. Escape the Rat Race

   This is a tense world. Tough economy, high unemployment, money issues and debt, geopolitical crisis and a general negative outlook nearly everywhere one turns. These things put a great deal of extra stress on men who are already struggling with the normal stressful conditions of the lives we lead. It is absolutely essential to escape from time to time. That can be achieved in an almost endless amount of ways. Grab your wife and take a spontaneous road trip. Decide to play “hooky” and spend the day doing things that you usually only dream about doing. Easier said than done yes, but if you can’t pull off those type of things, then think smaller but still powerful. Escape in your favorite music. Read a novel or poetry. Anything that will take you from current chaos and transport you away for just a brief spell will go a long way in reducing your stress.

3. Regain Your Child-like Joy

   The ultimate cliché of the middle-aged man is “he is behaving like a child.” They say that like it is a bad thing! It certainly can be a bad thing if you are acting irresponsibly and acting out in such ways that harm the people who love and depend on you. Otherwise, regaining that child-like love and joy in your heart is quite possibly the best thing you can ever do for yourself. In the eyes of child, the world has endless possibilities and opportunities. They wake up each day with a gleam in their eyes and joy in their hearts. Remember that feeling? Find it again.  Determine to discover one thing about the world every day that you never knew.

4. Make a Pilgrimage

   Inside many men lies a burning desire to explore. To challenge our limits and capabilities and define who we really are. A spiritual quest. All men have different visions of what that pilgrimage should be like and where it leads. To share mine, Alaska has been held out for this purpose at just the right time. Alaska represents many things to me and I intend to make that journey alone one coming day. What is the sight of your ultimate pilgrimage? What does your soul want to experience at least once while on this earth? Answer that question and plan it.

5. Become a Mentor

   Through our success and mistakes, our joy and heartbreak, we are blessed with ever accumulating knowledge and truth. By midlife, it is time to share that wisdom with those behind us as trail markers to navigate life. There are obvious ways to do this, such as teaching and volunteering. With the explosion of social media, there are also many new ways to do this. Facebook, Twitter and the other popular sites offer every human being chances to intervene in the life of someone who is desperately seeking help and guidance. Sometimes it can be a simple gesture of kindness or support, and sometimes it can be a lengthy discussion of sharing and exchanging experiences. The only skill necessary to make this kind of giant impact on the lives of fellow human beings is the courage necessary to step out of your comfort zone and do it. The number one sign of full maturity is the absence of selfishness and the desire to share what you have been blessed to gain.

6. Discover a Deeper Purpose

   For some men at this age, life can become stagnant and meaningless. Our lives become repetitive as they loop in the same endless circle. Never feeling connected to anything really, but more just surviving until the next day. For many, these thoughts can lead to depression, alcohol abuse, marital troubles and all sorts of issues. The first solution to breaking out is to actually realize that you do need to break out. That is the most difficult part. Once that awakening occurs, then vigorously seek God’s will for your life.

7. Avoid Tragic Mistakes

   There are many common pitfalls men step into when midlife comes around.  The lives of countless men, women and children have been destroyed by adultery. Don’t ever put yourself in a position to be tempted.  You will regret it for the rest of your life and count it as one of the worst decisions you ever made.  Other stupid choices include buying things you can’t afford or a woe-is-me attitude.

8. Take Leadership Responsibility

   As discussed, with age comes wisdom. With wisdom comes the responsibility to share that knowledge. Midlife is the time for you to grab the reins and become a leader. Leaders are found and needed in all walks of life and in every imaginable situation. There is a place that needs your leadership right now. Find it and step up. Always keep in mind as well, that sometimes the best leadership comes from the position of following. Your name need not be in spotlights for you to truly be a leader.

9. Gain Appreciation

   Using the cliché of the woman who walks into a giant closet overflowing with clothing and proclaims “I’ve got nothing to wear,” we as men can tend to fail as well at acknowledging the many blessings that have been bestowed on us. If you own a business, it is imperative to regularly take stock of inventory. We should do the same in our personal lives as well. Give thanks for what we do have instead of worrying about what we do not. Gain a deeper appreciation of the people in our lives and appreciation for the material needs of life. All of it can be taken away just as easy as it was gained.

10. The Past is Past

    All of us, every single one, have a past history that haunts us.  There is simply no way to make it to midlife without something traumatic happening to you.  These events shape and define our worldview. They can build strength and character, or they can destroy leaving bitterness and heartache. Turn over a new leaf. No life is unsalvageable. Look toward the future because that is where hope is always found. Use your past as your greatest strength and a badge of honor. And always move forward.

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