Midlife Sequel

for women creating their own next act

Olive Kitteridge

Posted: March 6, 2010
Author: Karen

olive

Every small town has an Olive Kitteridge; the retired school teacher who is partly loved, somewhat feared and generally not understood.

At the suggestion of a friend, I picked up Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout and thoroughly enjoyed reading the series of stories that make up the novel.

The author gives the reader great insight into a complex and in some ways simple character. I found myself thinking about relationships formed throughout life and how communities are woven together by those relationships and the events of a life time.

If you’re looking for a great book to take on spring vacation, Olive Kitteridge would be a good bet.  I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

Category: Books, ENGAGE
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Dream On

Posted: February 15, 2010
Author: Karen

skating

As a young girl, I dreamed of being a figure skater in the Olympics.  Never mind that there is not a single skating lesson in my past or that fundamentally, I’m not terribly coordinated. It didn’t matter then and it doesn’t matter now.  It was all part of the childhood dream that allowed us to imagine being whatever and whoever we envisioned.

So what are the dreams we have today that allow us to imagine being more of who we are or aren’t?  Perhaps it’s retiring comfortably to a cottage on the sea, living debt free in our home, volunteering in a Third World country, living to know our grandchildren, backpacking across Europe, painting along the Seine, running a marathon, playing golf every Tuesday morning or tending a beautiful garden.

The dream itself is inconsequential.  What’s important is that we all have one..or two.  Dreams keep us hopeful and allow us to anticipate the future.

As Carl Sandburg wrote, “Nothing happens unless first we dream”.

I wish you sweet dreams.

Category: EXPERIENCE
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Dream and Live

Posted: February 2, 2010
Author: Karen

We often hear the expression Live Like You Were Dying.  Tim McGraw sings a song with that title and it sounds like a good idea; but can we really do it?   If I knew I was going to die tomorrow, I certainly wouldn’t clean my house, do laundry or spend time with people who irritate me. I would bring together all those I love for one last visit.

In reality, we can’t always live like we were dying, because there are certain tasks that must get done. We also have an inherent need to see the future as a part of our life.

Over the past year, I began evaluating what’s important to me and what I want to accomplish in my life.  There are the obvious – raise great kids, spend time with my family and build lasting friendships.  But I’ve also come to appreciate the joy of setting and achieving goals, writing, learning, meeting new people, seeking adventure and living a healthy life.

So how do I achieve all of the above with one eye seeing what’s in front of me today and the other looking toward the future?

James Dean may have been on to something when he said, “Dream as if you’ll live forever, live as if you’ll die today”.

Category: QUESTION
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Resting Up In Your Comfort Zone

Posted: January 13, 2010
Author: Karen

As the new year kicks off, there is advice coming from all directions telling us how to change pretty much everything in our lives.  At the entry of my local Barnes & Noble store is a display of self improvement books with advice on spending money, losing weight, starting a new career, being happy and finding your spiritual being.

When we turn on the television, every other commercial tells us to look and feel better by buying a product or joining something.

I’ve bought my fair share of books on self discovery (and will continue to) and believe that learning and exploring are critical to creating the lives we seek.  But I also believe there’s a fine line between wanting to improve the lives we live and being dissatisfied with who we are today.

While paging through a book recently, I read a sentence that resonated with me.  “Self discovery needs a comfort zone to rest up in.”

My hope is that in this new year, we will all find a balance between self discovery and the discomfort that goes with it and the comfort of knowing and believing that who we are today is enough.

Category: QUESTION
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Counting Effort and Intentions

Posted: January 7, 2010
Author: Karen

The other day I felt a little stir crazy and decided to go for a walk outside.   Even though it was cold (0 degrees) I bundled up and made my way out the door.  A combination of snow and rain had made the streets not only slippery but incredibly bumpy.  I inched my way down the block, looking like a bird soaring (at a speed of less than 1 mph) with my wings (or arms) spread full width for balance.  I was determined to get some kind of workout.  After all, I was a life long hardy Wisconsinite/Minnesotan.

After less than a block, and about 10 minutes, I realized that I was getting absolutely no aerobic benefit to my endeavor and any yoga balancing practice I was getting would most likely be outweighed by bumps, bruises and broken bones.  I turned around and headed back to my house realizing that there is a fine line between stupidity and stick-to-itness.

Too bad there isn’t a fitness god who gives credit for effort.  Surely, I would have been given an A and been able to deduct 500 calories.  Just imagine if we could deduct calories for effort.  Or better yet how about for intentions.  Imagine how thin and fit we’d all be…

Category: EXPERIENCE, Health, More
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About Midlife Sequel

Karen: Talker, writer, thinker, compulsive reader, avid walker and enthusiastic traveler. karen@midlifesequel.com

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