All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. (J.R.R. Tolkien)
Thinking about the musings from DAY 1: What Is A Mid-Life Crisis?…
I believe that the concept that we refer to as a ‘mid-life crisis’ ultimately comes not from ourselves, but from above. I think it is not a crisis at all, but a nudge if you will, to refocus your energy on what is really important...
Your legacy.
I refer to again back to Dr. Gary North as I now turn to finances.
Whether we wish to admit it or not, we worry about our finances. Are we making enough? Are we supporting our loved ones? Will there be enough money at the end of the week? The month? Can we afford those payments, even at zero percent interest? Negative interest?
In other words, Dr. North contends, that we spend a lot of time worried, (and worrying), about our finances.
At the same time, we are probably not worried about our calling.
He contends that at the end of the day, it is because of our lack of attention to our calling, that leads to our problems with finances.
From Dr. North:
“You should not spend more than 40 hours a week on the salaried portion of your job. The other hours should go to starting a side business to retire into, working on your calling to retire, into, and time with your family…It is unwise to devote overtime to anything salaried. You lose your most precious resource: time. Your employer will gain the lion’s share of your time’s value. If your job requires more than 40 hours a week, look for a new job. Otherwise, you will find at age 50 that you are not ready for the transition….”
Dang! Talk about sticking it to the man….
When I first read it, it hit me like a ton of bricks.
I think at the end of the day, part of the reason why these comments made by Dr. North hit so close to home with me is the fact that in January of 2018, my friends from high school started turning 50. In fact, in September of 2018, I turned 50.
I realized that I was spending, (and continue to spend), more than 40 hours a week at my salaried job. I also realized that although I was in theory working on my calling, the work itself was too far and few between…
And pretty weak at that.
With that being said, I began to realize that I am having a mid-life crisis.
I also realized that I believe that my mid-life crisis could definitely be a lot worse than it actually is.
I believe that although I have a lot of things bouncing around in my head that I wish to ultimately put down on paper, or online, or whatever, the idea of transitioning from my full-time job to my calling has been on my mind and heart and soul for several years now.
It is really just now that I have actually begun the process of finally acting on my calling. Or, at least in my mind, what I think is my calling. This realization has grown more apparent now that I am on the other side of 50.
Where will this all end up?
I don’t know.
What I do know is that the focus on my calling is almost like a nudge. And this nudge feels like it has become more intentional, and a little bit clearer than in the past couple weeks, months and certainly last couple of years. It’s almost like a hand on my back, gently moving me towards the laptop to type this stuff out.
At least, in-between my day job…and paying the bills…and going to the grocery story…and doing the laundry….
Is it all for nothing?
I don’t think so.
I think there is much more to all of this than meets the eye. My brain is so scattered on so many fronts, there is no way I can possibly see the end-game right now.
In fact, in this lifetime, I may never see the end-game at all.
Am I alone with these series of revelations?
If you say YES…you are probably at least close to, or perhaps older than me.
If you say NO…you just aren’t old enough yet.
Just wait. It will hit you.
Eventually….
Do not feel discouraged if you are working for the man. Do not feel discouraged if you boil on the inside and wish to stick it to the man. Those feelings at the end of the day will not feed your family and provide the basic necessities of life. Instead, stop and look around…be grateful at the end of the day for what you do have, instead of longing for what you wish you desire to have or could have had. What’s past is past, there is nothing you or I can do about that. What I do know is that for all of our mistakes, stupid, intentional, accidental or otherwise, the sun will still rise tomorrow, (unless the forecast calls for a cloudy day), and we all get to start fresh when we wake up to take on that day. I believe that there is comfort in knowing that. A fresh do over, daily.
His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. (Matthew 25:21 KJV)
Was today’s blog a little confusing at times? Was the content perhaps a little overwhelming? Did you feel lost not understanding some or most of the subject matter?
Those feelings are totally understandable and it is ok to have one or more of those feelings. Remember that you are reading Day 2: Working For The Man.
If you haven’t been in class since the first day of school…or when the project began…or when the contract was first signed, etc., these feelings make perfect and logistical sense.
Please feel free to go back to where all of this began: