Strong & Vital, Pt. VIII - Powerful Practices for Well-being

Remember the buzz around morning and evening routines a decade or so ago? Often focused on optimizing productivity and sleep, they became a popular blueprint for a better life. But the times we’re living in bring a deeper yearning for meaning and connection, inviting a new approach: the power of practices.

What exactly are practices and why are they proving to be such a powerful evolution beyond mere routine? We'll explore the essence of practice and its vital importance for this stage of life, along with the foundational principles that will guide you in creating and sustaining practices that truly serve your growth and well-being.

How to Create Your Next Life Phase Through Play

At the height of my corporate career, the predominant life coaching advice was to invite more play into your life. That never resonated for me. I tried. Remember the adult coloring book phase of the 20-teens? For me, it had the opposite effect. It felt like a complete waste of time.

But here’s the thing – I’ve learned that we don’t all play the same way.

The Importance of Gathering

Does this situation sound familiar? You’re attending a wake or funeral service chatting with relatives you haven’t seen since, well, the last service for a relative who died. You spend time catching up and as you leave, you find yourself saying something like… “We must get together soon.” You mean it when you say it. But back home and in the flow of life, it never materializes.

This recently happened to me when a cousin of my mom’s passed. He was 85 and a treasured member of our family. As I was uploading pictures to the funeral parlor’s website in preparation for his service, I smiled recalling all the good times these cousins shared in their later years, whether on vacation or at each other’s homes. But then I was struck that almost all of the members of the generation that preceded me, including my mom, have passed. Somehow the kids became the elders.

And I got see these “kids” – all of my second cousins from Brooklyn – when I attended that May funeral. I was amazed at how easily the conversation flowed with people I hadn’t seen in a long time. And I vowed that we’d see each other before the next wake. That reunion happened last week.

The Propulsion of a True Decision

In the September 1st blog, The Birth of a Rite of Passage, I shared my desire to commemorate my 60th birthday in 2024 in an impactful way. I could feel a new adventure begin to form, a mindful quest to help me embody this new decade.

And without warning, I woke on a Sunday morning a few weeks back and just knew – I would be roadtripping to Alaska for 3 ½ months in 2024.

I ended the post by quoting podcast guest Sara Harris who said, “Making the decision to commit to the vision quest, when you say ‘Yes’ – it begins.” And that certainly feels true. I feel like I’m “in it,” like the experience has been launched. But there’s more…

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