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What if you do live from where you are into your 80’s or 90’s?
Life, in past years, past generations, has often been defined in halves. The thought is there is a first half of life. Then somewhere down your road you enter the second half of life.
In our western-influenced culture, life in halves has been a comfortable designation. More kids than not have asked when traveling somewhere, “Are we there yet?” Often a parent would say, “We’re more than half way.” We are all influenced with “half way through,” in part because many of the athletics we all enjoy have a half time.
Looking at life as half done has been the subject of some fine books and conferences, in their day. Considering how one is going to live into the future is now taking on a whole new perspective, Humans in our world are living longer. Globally, even.
For instance, around 1933, when Social Security was instituted in the US of A, the demographics showed that not all that many adults were living much beyond 65. Thus, the implication was that you’d better retire and live a little before you expire, if you even live that long.
In LDG’s whole-person mentoring model, we look at life in 3rds. Not halves. No matter the age, we look at life in 8 Dimensions through the Circle of Life. We are intentional about mentoring in the Three3rds of life. There are different needs and experiences for each 3rd, but it’s the same individual maturing and living into their personal design. That does creatively bring people to a vibrant maturity no matter their age.
First 3rd: 0 – 30
Childhood 0-10 Adolescence 10-20 Emerging Adult 20-30
You and I know that these numbers can shift a bit. Therefore, we suggest looking at a life in decades. Give or take. No matter how old one becomes, the 8 dimensions of life figure into the development of each person, from child to elder. With these decades, change becomes significant. This 3rd of life is definitely full of exploration and discovery.
In the previous blog post, Andy Braner, valued member of LDG’s Mentoring Development Team, speaks to this first 3rd of life. He is a master mentor and communicator in our world concerning the needs and development of healthy adolescents and emerging adults.
Second 3rd: 30–60
Realization 30-45 Accomplishment 45-60
If a person makes it this far, there is the hope that education, marriage, possibly family, career, travel, volunteering is being experienced. What one has been working toward in life begins to be realized.
This second 3rd of life is where hopes and dreams get lived out in real time. The desire to be making a difference in our world is being worked out in real time. Paying attention to the 8 dimensions is crucial to health throughout one’s whole life, in real time.
Dreams can get shattered. Dreams realized can also take people to places and opportunities they’ve only hoped for.
Success, not just monetary success (which is important), is given new wings and possibilities. What a person accomplishes begins to free them up to creatively contribute time and resources to places of care and special interest.
In this 3rd, as health in all 8 dimensions is nurtured, people who genuinely, realistically care about others will begin to look for places to make a difference. Locally. Globally. Right in their neighborhoods. Maybe their places of worship. Work trips to foreign places. You name it. The privilege of accomplishment, due to living a whole life, via whole person mentoring allows these men and women opportunities to “pass it on and pay it forward” with all kinds of generosity.
These good souls are not even beginning to think, “half done.” There is more life to live…making a difference. My byline is that I’m going to keep going until I breathe no more. How I live my life now is by design from how I’ve thought about living “live to the max!” in my second 3rd.
Third 3rd:
60 to whenever
My wife’s spunky and precious mother lived to be 103. Most of us won’t do that. But most of us, given good health, will live longer than we first anticipated.
At 72 years old, people ask me when I’m going to retire. I know, care about and honor those who have chosen to do that. Each of us has to keep carving our own path. However, I tell most people that I’m just getting started. There is so much more of life to live.
Some encouraging thoughts about this 3rd will be shared in the next blog post, by our LDG CEO, Tim Murphy, who’s own father is now at 99 years old. Tim’s father, Pat, has fully lived well his own three 3rds, and beyond. Mr. Murphy’s ten children, and the warm tribe of in-law kids, grandkids, great-grandkids, and all of us who have known him will attest to that.
I encourage you to think in 3rds about your life. Not halves. Be committed to choosing to be fully alive in every one of those 3rds in every dimension of your own life. Every day of your life!
Intentional, deep-change,
whole-life, transformational mentoring
is for anyone of any age for all of their life.
Someone is waiting for you to mentor them from where you are at your age. We will be helping you do just that in future posts, workshops and training opportunities.
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