142: Is Reinvention Still Possible...for You?

Answer the title's question for yourself. And as you're processing it, perhaps a reminder from a previous essay will help.

I truly believe in the wonder and power of being a renaissance person or defining your second-half as your personal renaissance era and your time for reinvention.

Reinvention and upping my renaissance era game is on my mind this week as I'm a couple of days out from crossing an age-is-a-number milestone of six decades plus five years. I'll let you do the math on that (wink, wink).

I'm convinced that reinvention is possible as long as I'm living and active. And I don't plan to slow my roll on that process any time soon. And neither should you.

The renaissance era perspective is useful because with reinvention comes a variety of new or renewed interests, hobbies, activities, or experiences.

Whatever your age—go for it! Why not do a lil' reinvention? There's no time like the present.

Reinvention is a decision and mindset that has the potential to reenergize your aging journey.

I reinvented my fitness and health routine a couple of years ago—thanks to our youngest daughter—as I started running again. My health reinvention has improved not only my wellness and my mindset but also my discipline and overall sense of well-being. Walking, hiking, and other activities I enjoy have been reenergized by my running reinvention.

However you choose to pursue reinvention, believe it's possible.

Reinvention is an ageless process

This principle follows the age-is-a-number mindset. The moment you think you've aged out of reinvention is the moment you begin to settle for less that you're capable of.

Who wants to live that way? Being sedentary or set in your ways. Those approaches to life age you more than you might realize.

Reinvention is a personal growth loop. The more new experiences you invite into your aging journey the more you increase your capacity for physical, emotional, relational, and mental growth.

• Create a reinvention experience list (a reinvented bucket list of sorts) to pursue in the next six to 12 months.
• Evaluate your attitude and your physical and emotional health as you check-off and make a habit of your new experiences.

Reinvention must be on your terms not those determined by age (or anyone else)

"Act your age!" "You're too old to do that!" Those are someone else's terms for how you should live your life—and they're potential threats to your reinvention process.

Call BS on anyone or anything that tethers you to culture's perception about what's age-appropriate.

Ageism sucks! And it has done great emotional and motivational damage to second-halfers and those approaching their second-half era.

• What reinvention decision have you allowed the ageism crowd to keep you from pursuing?
• Who in their second-half era do you admire for their reinvention stamina? An author? A celebrity? An athlete? A friend or family member?
• Ask someone on the path of reinvention for their reinvention tips?

Say "Yes" to reinvention and transform your current age into a renaissance era of new experiences.

Press on...

Eddie