Blog post written by: Danny W. Pettry II, M.Ed., M.S.,  LPC, NCC, CTRS-BHS, Certified Success Principles Trainer

 

Spoiler alert – no one has got off planet Earth alive.

Reality check – all of us living human beings will eventually die.

 

I turned 41-year-old this year. I’m happy and grateful to be alive.

When do men experience their mid-life crisis? I’m asking for a friend. (Laugh aloud).

 

On Confidence and Life Experiences

Psychologist Carl Jung said, “Life really does begin at 40. Up until then you are doing research.”

I’ll disclose that I felt emotionally immature during my early to mid-20s.

I didn’t think of myself as a mature man until my mid 30s.  I think it was around age 34, 35, or 36.

I know that I’m more confident in myself and my abilities at 41 compared to when I was only 21.

Music and Inspiration for Living:

Jimmy Buffet’s song “A Pirate Looks at 40,” is about reflecting on past life and wondering about the his future.

Where do I go from here?

 

Two very different musicians have shared philosophy through their music that inspires me for living the fullest life.

 

1.) Eminem sings in his song, Lose Yourself, “Look, If you had One shot Or one opportunity To seize everything you ever wanted In one moment Would you capture it Or just let it slip?

I think his song encourages people to go for their dreams. It’s about taking action. You have one life on Earth. Don’t waste your life. It’s your one opportunity too do something worthwhile and meaningful.

 

2.) Lee Ann Womack sings: “Tell me who wants to look back on their years And wonder where those years have gone.” Her song is titled, “I hope you dance.”

Dance is a metaphor for continuing to persist through life’s struggles. I find that it encourages action too so a person doesn’t look back with regrets.

About Regrets at the end of life:

Elderly on their deathbed rarely shared regrets about the things they did in life.

Their regrets are often the things they didn’t do in life.

 

About Death

What about death? Death and dying are topics that those of us in recreational therapy study. We, recreation therapists often provide services for people who are in terminal illness. We provide services for people in hospice, nursing homes, and physical rehabilitation centers.

 

What happens we die?

Religions and philosophers have shared their ideas.

 

Dr. Raymond Moody studied those people who experienced Near Death Experiences (NDE). He interviewed people from different parts of the world who had NDEs. This was pre-internet so it is unlikely the people in these interviews could have shared a conspiracy. These were people who spoke different languages and lived in different countries.

Many of the people who were pronounced dead and returned shared similar experiences.

This consists of seeing a bright light that was warm and loving.

People were faced with questions like:

What did learn in life?

How did I love others in life?

 

These are two very big questions that I live by in my life

I like to take a daily self-assessment/ inventory and ask myself these questions; what am I learning in life? How am I showing greater levels of care and compassion for others? How can I be a better human being? Who’ll cry when I die? Am I giving my life and my career as a practitioner 100%?

Inspiration for living a life worth living:

Questions for You to Consider:

What about you?

How are you going to live your life?