I remember as a young girl playing the game called Life.  You traveled around the board in a little car, as you took your trip around the board, you went to college, were awarded a career, took a spouse and continued to travel through life ups and downs.  As a young girl I didn’t really get the metaphorical connection but I liked it when I was lucky enough to score a great job.  The next step along the board was having children, one, two, twins, etc.  I loved this part of the game the best, where would life take me and how many little children would I get?  It’s kind of interesting as I was never really that maternal desiring a bunch of children but I do think this was what we expected as young women of the ’60’s and 70’s.

The next part of the game to me was kind of pointless.  It was just more of the ups and downs and we were pretty much done with having a career, spouses and children.  I hated that part of the game.

As I am now in that part of my life, I had no idea how wrong I was.  I have to confess I haven’t played the board game in many years, I don’t even really remember playing that particular game with my children.  Maybe the game has changed since I was a child but I really think we need a do-over. My new game of life would have travel, new careers throughout the path, re-starts, more children, pets to add to your car, all of this while the path is careening towards the end of the game.

Honestly I have never felt more alive than I do right now at 54.  I am still relatively healthy, maybe carrying around some extra pounds and I have had a long, mostly rewarding career.  Each phase of life has been exciting, college, careers, marriage, children and now even grandchildren.  I am looking forward to retirement, or semi-retirement, as it will open up doors to have a do-over.  What’s next on the path, so many options and opportunities.

Here are a few things on my list:

Long walks outside, taking my granddaughter to the zoo and library, getting rid of stuff as I have realized that material things aren’t what’s important, considering a new career, writing, real estate, photography, or just volunteering and helping others.

What’s on your do-over list?

Aging Family Freedom Happiness Nature Photography Real estate Retirement Uncategorized birds Freedom Happiness Health hiking Nature Photography Retirement travel