“What on earth am I doing?” I asked myself as I walked out of the parking lot with a huge bag of freshly sheared Alpaca fleece.
Some context is needed here. It was my birthday. I had just attended a monthly felting session. One of the women there had just sheared five alpacas. We all were given a bag of fleece to see if it could be turned into felt. It’s been a couple of weeks, and I have not mustered the courage to open that bag. I have never seen fleece like that–I’m used to the pre-packaged stuff, not the fresh stuff. But I must admit, when I see that bag sitting on the floor in my craft room, it amps my creative spirit. It also frightens me.
The bag of fleece urges me to open it up and do something with it. Could I spin it? I don’t spin. I’d love to, but that is opening doors to places I have never been and I’m not sure I want to go. Maybe I’m too old for that kind of learning. I mean the artists I felt with, although younger than I, have years and years of experience and knowledge. It’s the old “If I knew then what I know now” conundrum.
Now that I’m 67, I sometimes have those dark thoughts about aging. Should I even try to learn something new? Should I even bother? Come on, girl! Of course.
I believe in serendipity. (And yes, I did like the 2001 movie of the same name.) So, when I received the latest newsletter from Canadian writer Anne Bokma, I gasped when I saw the featured quiz. What’s Your Third Act Going to Be? A 2-minute quiz to understand where you are—and the kind of change you’re ready for. A quiz to help you figure out what you should do next. It’s a quiz that will guide you, solve some age-old problems and get unstuck.
The Third Act. I’ve never though of life that way. But a google search will tell you that planning for The Third Act is very trendy. And why not? We are living decades longer than our ancestors. So, what are we going to do with ourselves when we enter this stage of life.
When you think of it, these third act years are a time of empowerment. We have collected years of experiences, some good and some bad. We’ve gained wisdom and knowledge from those experiences. Our responsibilities are (hopefully) fewer and our roles are changing. The Third Act is a time to let loose and remove the burdens we have been carrying. It is time to rediscover our passions and follow our dreams. We’ve earned the right to surround ourselves with people who are a positive light in our world, and who inspire us to search for our best new selves.
Any “life after retirement” info you read tries to prepare you for the feeling of loss. Experts say you need to find a purpose, a routine. And it’s true. A sense of purpose is needed to get through the days. There are many things you can do to help make the most of your Third Act. Think about what excites you when you wake up? What do you look forward to? Personally, I don’t look forward to much until after coffee, toast, and a good long read.
Once you have some idea of what inspires you, act on it. Gradually. Start small. Join a group. Try a new craft. Play a new sport. Just do it. And if you don’t like it, who cares? Do something different. You’ve earned the right to change your mind.
I’d say that the most important thing in living a fulfilled, satisfied Third Act is simply not being afraid. Explore. Try new things.
This may be easier said than done for some. We all adapt differently. Transitions can be uncomfortable and it’s important not to ignore the opportunities that come our way, opportunities for happiness, growth, and self-discovery.
Bokma’s quiz sheds insight into how our personality embrace’s life’s changes-or doesn’t. By learning a bit about your tendencies and how you embrace change, you can plot a way to make the most of this moment. Don’t get me wrong, finding yourself at any age is not easy and not something that can be learned by doing a two-minute quiz. I did take the quiz, and I was impressed at how accurate it was. It validated some of my thoughts and provided lots to think about going forward.
Since I retired a few years ago, I have met many people my age who inspire me. I have blogged about a few of them and will continue introducing these inspirational humans as I meet them along my journey.
For now, I am going to see what I can do with this alpaca fleece. Who knows where that will lead? I’m excited to find out!
Interesting Reads & Things
Wanderings Art 