I hope you are still with me – for a fun ride toward more energy, activity and meaning in your life. This might be in your retirement years or really at any age.
STAND UP FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN
This post describes another step in your journey and can be done in a variety of ways.
You can write about your views on specific issues, with your own blog, articles or social media posts. You can support others’ views or join groups that are doing the kind of work that you value.
Your contributions can help advocate for causes that you feel strongly about. You can sign petitions, re-post or re-tweet others writings. You can offer suggestions on how a group’s mission can more effectively bear fruit. Most groups want engagement from their supporters – just like the common phrase says, Join the Conversation.
Your contributions can also support other people’s effort and passion – like a cheerleader. This is an important role, especially if you are good at it. I remember, years ago, when Arnold Schwarzenegger was running for governor in California. A reporter asked him what qualifications he had to govern California. He said, proudly, “I am just a cheerleader”. It was in this role he felt he could make a real contribution. And it worked for him.
Your cheerleading doesn’t have to be devoted to political causes or social movements. Some people become super fans, for example, by energetically supporting their favorite sports team. One superfan I know helped support his favourite football team and also helped raise money for the team’s cancer foundation.
I think the most important part of this step toward feeling younger is to just show up. Many motivational speakers say that this is a big part of any success – just showing up, consistently, so that other people know that they can count on you.
This short video explains how this works in everyday life. At first glance, it may look complicated, but really it is quite simple.
A FORCE OF NATURE
Stand up. Do something.
Become an active participant. And like the old, but true, saying tells, the more you put in the more you get out of it.
Even better, this becomes a positive energy producing cycle. The more you put in, the more you get out. When you start feeling the results of more energy and fulfillment, you have even more to put in, resulting in even more coming back to you. And this process builds on itself. A really powerful force of nature.
A simple analogy is the snowball effect. A snowball rolling down a hill gathers snow all around its’ edges. It becomes bigger and gathers even more snow as it rolls down the hill. Then becomes bigger and bigger.
WHAT DO YOU STAND FOR
Another benefit to joining in and participating is that you get to learn more. And usually, the more you learn about something, the more enjoyment you experience. A good example of this is music or art. The more knowledge or skill you acquire, the deeper the appreciation of the talents and creations of others.
You can also benefit from widening your knowledge and experience. And you can do this in a meaning way. One option is to learn more about what you do stand for.
In society today, many issues have become complicated and sometimes overwhelming. To me, becoming more open and more informed helps me feel younger and a part of what is going on in the world. As an older white man, I have a lot to learn about gender, race and poverty, as just a few examples. This process of learning and examining my own life has been heart-warming.
As I learn a few things, I feel better prepared to participate and engage. This doesn’t mean I am any kind of expert. It just means I am willing to learn and willing to acknowledge that I have a lot to learn. This is not always been an easy experience. In fact, it can be very humbling.
The rewards are worth it I think. I have found this willingness to be open and learn to be very gratifying. I am learning about myself as I learn about the world. I think it has helped me to be less prejudiced, less rigid, more informed and more empathic. It has also helped me to feel less cynical about the world. I am definitely a work in progress, though.
I want to be the opposite of the stereotypical narrow-minded old man you see portrayed in Herman comics or on television. And I think it has helped me feel younger in the process.
It is never too late to start your own journey.
Until next time, let our warm hearts soar!
Michael
michael@aWarmHeart.ca
And thank you for caring that little bit extra – it really makes a big difference.
