Think back when you were young. There was energy and enthusiasm; the future was a banquet of choices and opportunities, so many things to do and so little time to do them. And “Yet, knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back.”
This line from Robert Frost’s famous poem The Road Not Taken, describes the dilemma we all face in life where one choice precludes so many others. And for various reasons: pursuing a career, raising a family, or just making ends meet, we gallop down one road not expecting to ever revisit those missed opportunities again.
But in her book “Secrets of Becoming a Late Bloomer,” Connie Goldman discusses how rediscovering an interest or passion we had early in life can lead us to experience the excitement and enthusiasm we once felt.
But what are some ways that can help us rediscover the road, now overgrown and hidden, to those interests and passions? Connie suggests several steps.
Write down every activity in your life that has brought you great pleasure and satisfaction, and what you particularly liked about them. You may also want to make a list of things you wanted to do but never had the time, or things you were told you weren’t good enough to do. Use these lists to help identify those pleasurable activities you may now want to pursue. Spend some time considering them; don’t rush. And during this exploration, be open to new possibilities. “Yeah, I always wanted to draw funny cartoons about aging.” Or “I always wanted to learn how to play the blues on a harmonica.”
Give yourself permission to stretch and grow by trusting in yourself and your own curiosity. And don’t worry about looking foolish, inept, or not acting your age. As we age, there is less pressure to draw within the lines; we can create our own pictures. Then share your thoughts with a close friend or loved one who knows you well to get their advice and support. You may need their gentle encouragement to get you moving on a new road of self-discovery.
You may discover now is the time to write, to teach, to heal, to dance, to become a graffiti artist! It could be anything. We all know people in their 60s, 70s, or 80s who have rediscovered a purpose that has given them new energy, new drive, and an enthusiasm for life. We can continue to grow and change and live an active life until we drift away. But that active life can also be full of passion and purpose.
Now that we have the time, we may still be able to loop back and clear that road that was once not taken of debris and fallen trees, and adventure down it to find that our most satisfying discoveries are still ahead of us.
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Brain Tease: See if you can accomplish this Mission Impossible — if you choose to accept it.
Transform each of the following five words to create five new words by adding exactly the same letters to each of the following words. Good Luck! This message will self-destruct in 10 seconds.
1. den, 2. fa, 3. me, 4. men, 5. to
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It wasn’t Bobby Vinton, Neil Sedaka, or Bobby Vee, who all had hits in the ‘60s, but Frankie Avalon, who was one of the most popular teen‑idol regulars on American Bandstand, and recorded the No. 1 hit “Venus.” I received correct answers from Doug Nelson, Donna Mollet, Judy Kiser, Nancy Higgins, Shelley Hinatsu, Rhonda Spies, Pat Evenson-Brady, Eva Summers, Rebecca Abrams, Jess Birge, and Jay Waterbury, who is this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket.
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Last week, while watching American Bandstand and dancing the Mashed Potato, I missed Kim Birge, Mike Yarnell, Patti Munk, and Rebecca Abrams.
This 1967 Emmy award-winning television musical comedy that aired for two seasons on NBC followed the adventures of four young musicians trying to make it as a rock band. For this week’s “Remember When question, what was the name of the group that on Sept. 12, 1966, performed on American Bandstand their first No. 1 hit, “Last Train to Clarksville”? Email your answer to www.mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-980-4645, or send it with a 45-vinyl record of their biggest hit, “I’m a Believer” written by Neil Diamond.
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Well, it’s been another week, putting my pants on backward one leg at a time. Until we meet again, don’t let the wind blow you down the sidewalk like a tumbling tumbleweed.
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“Free your heart from hatred — forgive. Free your mind from worries — most never happen. Live simply and appreciate what you have. Give more. Expect less.”
—Stephen Covey
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nutritious home-delivered and in-person meals throughout the Gorge, available at noon Monday through Friday, unless otherwise noted.
Seniors of Mosier Valley (541-980-1157) — Wednesdays with music on second and fourth Wednesdays; Dufur — Wednesdays at noon at 320 NE Second St.; Hood River Valley Adult Center (541-386-2060); Sherman County Senior and Community Center (541-565-3191); The Dalles Meals-on-Wheels (541-298-8333).
For meal sites in Washington, call Klickitat County Senior Services at the Goldendale office (509-773-3757) or the White Salmon office (509-493-3068), and in Skamania County, call Senior Services (509-427-3990).
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