As we age–ok, as I age…things get both easier and harder. Changes come fast and furious and I try to approach things with much more intention than in prior years. It is easier to now know what I like, what I will tolerate, and what my limitations are. It is equally difficult to adjust to this new reality. Let’s take exercise. Yay, but also, no. Recovery time has lengthened significantly and nagging injuries crop up easily and persist for what seems like forever. Frozen shoulder? Yes, have had both shoulders freeze, so there goes 3 years of shoulder work. Yes, 3 years. Pro-tip: Avoid this malady if you can. I must exercise with intention instead of going in and tearing it up some random day after not having hit the gym in a week.

What I have learned over the last several years is that just when we get comfortable: in our physical routines, our relationships, our careers–things will change and these changes require intention. What are our intentions with the second half of our lives? What does a life well-lived mean? We can’t (shouldn’t) ignore that feeling of dread when we go to bed on Sunday night thinking about the work week ahead. We shouldn’t ignore the sharp pain in our lower back when we roll over at night. We shouldn’t ignore the distance between us and a dear friend or family member. We don’t have the luxury of time anymore. The freedom to “fix things later” goes away and, at least for me, I look at my life with a renewed sense of control. 

In our twenties and thirties we were busy living life to the fullest, raising families, honing our career expertise, being newly married, blah blah. We have so many things pulling at us that it can be difficult to make the decisions that feel right to us; other people need us. It hardly crosses our minds that life is short (unless, of course, a loved one suffered a serious illness or death otherwise stares you in the face on a regular basis). But suddenly, the kids are grown and the house gets quiet and you wonder what it is all for. This is all normal, so they say, and I am learning to embrace these changes but also think about I want to shape my future years and, thus, acting with intention. I don’t know about you but I suddenly have no career (I retired) and no kids at home (mostly) and have to look at my life through both the rearview mirror and with a new intentionality. What do I want my journey to be like, feel like, and look like? How do I want to be remembered? What brings me the most joy? What do I need to practice to have the life I want? I am still figuring this out. How have your intentions changed with age?