"You have your whole life in front of you."
How many times have I heard that over the years? How many times have you heard it? Graduations. Weddings. New jobs. New homes. A move to a different city. All the milestone moments. All the celebrations marking the end of one chapter and the start of another.
I was surprised recently when I was told I have my whole life in front of me. It's been a while since I've thought that way. As I've gotten older time has felt scarce. Fleeting. There are constant reminders that life isn't what it used to be and, now more than ever, I'm aware of the passage of time.
I look back on pictures from ten years ago and there are new lines on my face. The skin on my neck sags in a different way. Two drinks, heck two sips, of alcohol is a recipe for a crappy sleep. And my mid-section is an ever-fluctuating (mostly up) size thanks to that sneaky little thing called perimenopause.
I'm feeling the march of time in other ways. My kids are taller than me. Cute pre-school graduation pictures on Facebook are now beaming university grads. What used to be green space on my drive into town has been replaced by subdivisions. The frenetic hustle of work and life and parenting young children has faded and been replaced by a quiet Iām not quite sure what to do with.
At a glance life is familiar. I live in the same house, in the same town. And yet, the days turn to months and the months turn to years. Like the seasons outside my window, life is constantly changing.
As I reflect I can see the seeds of rebirth. Of a new beginning. Of, perhaps, a whole new life in front of me no matter what the year on my birth certificate says.
Itās the gift of lived experience and the wisdom that comes with age.
Life looks different. I feel different. As I approach my fifth decade on this beautiful planet I carry perhaps a patience I didn't have before. A gratitude for what was, what is and what can be.
It's a work in progress and when I feel myself lamenting the passing years Iām reminding myself that time is abundant. Possibility is endless. Perspective is everything.
I truly do have my whole life in front of me. We all do. It's up to each of us to believe it.
As the years pass, how has your perspective shifted? Iād love to know.
Wishing you a weekend of sun, fresh air and loving hugs.
With gratitude, always ā¦
Sarah
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For More ā¦
Small Group Workshops
If you are looking for a workshop for your womenās group, your staff lunch and learn or as part of your company wellness program Iād love to connect. You can find out more here!
1:1 Coaching: The Art of Transition
Iāve launched a new one-on-one coaching program called: āThe Art of Transition: Cultivating Calm in Times of Changeā. There are still a couple of spots left to start in late summer. You can find out more here. Iād love to chat!