I’ll be turning 50 in several months and I’ve been mulling over reaching my half-century mark – the regrets, the happys, losses, and gains. All in all, the positives are winning.
I’d love to hear what your mid-life+ “philosophy of life” is.
My philosophy started kicking in by my early 40’s. I found it was very important to me to go back and do things right wherever I had mickey moused them. Same way with character defects. I stopped taking short cuts. The concept of principles before personalities when making decisions or even judgemnets about things seems to stay right at the front of my focus.
So I would say My philosophy is to do my best to do my best. Whatever that gives me I happily accept and go on with life.59 here. Retired 3 years back and am OK financially. We are just trying to enjoy life and do the right thing no matter what. Not that many orbits left around the sun, so have FUN while you can.
Also, Less Is More. We have gotten rid of so many stupid useless belongings, and feel so much better without all that crap and everything it involved. Travel, friends, family, and hobbies are where our priorities are.
Find something that you love. Keep doing it.
Look at it as reaching goals that many in life were denied.
Just turned 55. Count my blessings every day. Stopped worrying about a lot of things. With time comes perspective.
nm
-
Always go forward. (Don’t live in the past, or get caught up by old mistakes; instead, learn from them and move ahead.)
-
Do the next right thing.
-
No matter how much it appears so, no one knows what they’re doing.
Have fun. These are the good old days.
You can’t change others, you can only change how you respond to others.
I’ve found this to be a central truth of life; well said!
(Pontification, Take 2)
In a few weeks I’ll be completing my 66th solar orbit. Here’s my take on life.
*Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
*
and
*Happiness doesn’t come from having what you want, but from wanting what you have.
*
Go for the GUSTO! When you’re out of “Schlitz,” you’re out of beer!
When I was 50, there was still a lot of adventure to come. I still liked traveling and the work wasn’t bad. At 60, it was all turning a bit sour, so to prevent myself from becoming an embittered, angry, depressed person, I retired. My philosophy now is to do whatever I damn well please, to not stand in lines for any reason, and to cut off people who annoy me. It’s working so far.
To the distant past, we were the remote future.
To the remote future, we were the distant past.
Right now is* awesome* and amazing!
I’ve gone 58 years without a philosophy, why start now?
“Fuck it”
Back when I turned 50ish, The question changed from
“why would someone give up a job in tech and turn away from 30 years in the profession in order to ‘find himself’”
to “How many healthy years left? Do I want to spend them in a cubicle?”
“The secret to life is enjoying the passage of time. There ain’t nothin’ to it, any fool can do it.” (James Taylor)
This is the philosophy I have tried to live my life by, enjoying life isn’t about what you have, it’s about enjoying what you have. And it’s not that hard to do, put your mind to it, be creative.
- I can’t remember who said it, “One thing I’ve learned about life, it goes on.”
Always stuck with me.
Also, " All we are is dust in the wind."
Agreed.
Overall, my philosophy is to enjoy what I can out of my time on the planet; this is my only chance. I’m kind and respectful to all the creatures I share this world with. I also accept (for the most part) life as it’s dealt to me. I do the best I can to leverage the odds in my favor, but she’s a mighty ship.
I’ll add:
There’s no one in those cars.
Very few battles are worth fighting.
It’s easier to dance than it is to wrestle.
No matter what happens to me or my loved ones, we’re going to make it work (see River Hippie’s quote, above).
No one knows how life is “supposed to be”.
Most issues are shrouded in a cloud of grey; there are very few absolutes.