Rhythm & Tempo

Listen to the RHYTHM of the falling rain...

We are all born with certain inherent abilities whether we recognize them immediately or not. Activities we are naturally drawn to over and over again. We might have wondered as a child why science experiments were fascinating; how we could perform gymnastic feats at the park playground with no problem; or spend an entire day at the library searching for just the right book. These and many others are why we want to work in a certain area or profession as an adult. Some of us are naturally gifted to work in the medical field, with computers in an information technology (IT) department, or as an elementary or high school teacher, or dream of becoming a college professor or book editor. Others may be perfectly suited to hold positions in the police force, construction, political office, or teaching others how to quilt. It’s not the particular work we do. It’s how well we are fitted to the job that makes the difference.

In the twenty-first century, we thankfully have opportunities to work in any field we choose no matter our gender, race, or marital status. Some type of education or training--including on-the-job--will be necessary. The fact is if we have a genuine desire to flourish and grow, and if we persevere through all the effort it takes, we can get to where we want to go using our natural abilities.

Once we finally arrive at our chosen destination, we still have places to go. There is no such thing as remaining in one position over five or ten years. How many of us have been asked in our annual review, “Where do you see yourself in the next five years?” Employers have a definite aversion to someone who is not active and progressing. Think of it this way: remaining stagnant is not attractive! Thriving in business is a constant learning environment. The meter ticks rhythmically back and forth between one lesson and the next; between beginner and advanced levels. If we welcome and desire momentum in our occupations, we can accomplish much.

We may also see or experience the opposite. No matter how hard we try, our careers can get temporarily sidetracked or the job doesn’t work out as expected. Or we find a need to move from one city to another having to backtrack just a bit to catch up. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the average worker will hold around fifteen jobs in their lifetime for one reason or another. So we are not alone.

What we want and need is to protect ourselves by finding the best way to remain in a job--at least long enough to get that promotion--before moving on to the next big thing. Other than obvious responsibilities, like showing up on time for work, there are plenty of ways to stay active and enjoy our working years in the process. To get the ball rolling, try one or two of these foundational steps and build from there:

• Stand Out: don’t just follow the crowd, do the right thing.
• Be a Champion: lead with courage and stand up for the underdog.
• Fill in the Gaps: help a coworker who is struggling with her duties. We all have bad days.
• Be an Example: show love, offer encouragement, and extend a helping hand.
• Compromise: it’s not necessary to always have the last word; try humbleness instead.

Tip of the Day

Living life is certainly difficult to figure out, especially right now. Finding the answers for what to do can seem nearly hopeless. How do we survive from living as part of a couple to making it on our own? Every day, every job, every place will not always be perfect for us, maybe not even a little bit, maybe not for a while. But it’s never hopeless.

This is where we realize when we are at the “end of our rope” there is a safety knot to catch us! If we learn to trust in God, we will not fall or even stumble. There may even be a day God will lead us right into a new relationship and, then, we will be on an entirely different path to conquer. But for now, in this growing season in our lives, God has other plans for us. We can only cooperate and do our very best. That’s all He asks of us. We can do it!

“Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life” (Galatians 6:4-5 The Message).

Keep an Eye on the Mountaintop

Reaching our personal mountaintop one step at a time!

Decades travel at the speed of a “don’t blink, you’ll miss it” kind of rush. When we were teens or young adults with all of our self-preoccupations, we never dreamed we would ever see the time when we faced a season called “midlife.” But, sure enough, every single one of us arrives blinking our eyes in surprise and suspense! What exactly will happen to us now? We stare at the mirror wondering if it’s too late to do anything that will make a difference. Our young ones are jumping out of the nest anxious to find their way. And we are left all at once with glee, sadness, and terror at the thought of a vacant house. Of course, when we finally start painting our lives golden, our minds play tricks on us and we still think we are twenty years younger than reality!

Every season of our lives has its pros and cons “for such a time as this.” In our exciting college years, life happened all at once. Joyfully or not, we separated from our parents and envisioned a lifetime of great success, and the “I can’t live without you” type of perfect relationship along with happily doing things our way. Sound familiar?

Between our 30s and 40s, life started revealing its true nature. Things were different than we originally imagined; the sharp edges grayed a bit in the fog of reality. Still, life was “do-able” as we revised our plans, sometimes more than once. Energies slowed a bit, then took off again like a stuttering car, as we discovered new goals to fit our lifestyles. We learned the eye-opening difference between “Me, Me, Me” and “We, We, We.” Life was good as long as we were willing to open our hearts and minds to the world.

Midlife comes onto the scene with a vengeance! For some, it’s a shock to turn around and discover a new landscape--an entirely new life we just can’t ignore. Now we remember all those dreams and decisions we intended to tackle thirty years before interruptions, distractions, and life generally took over. So, do we just throw up our hands and give up? No, not ever! We have all the time, talent, and wisdom to share with others now. Wasting those would be a violation of nature and our well-being. Now is the best opportunity to start making new plans, as life does not wait on any of us, as we already recognize.

The good news is we can look around with eyes wide open and see new possibilities we never knew we had. Currently [2025], 126 million people in the U. S. are over age fifty and growing (IBISworld.com), and the U.S. Census states 25 million live alone, and 55 percent are single-again women. We are not alone by any means! If we truly want to do something with the next fifty years (yes, more and more people are reaching the centennial mark and beyond), we must be willing to get out of the house and meet others in our “tribe.”

Thinking about it, we can see our experiences, good and not so good, piled one on top of the other like a house made of brick for our entire lives. There is a purpose in that phenomenon. Our lifework built for us an entire “library” of useful and teachable events. We most certainly can not go back in history and redo our lives. But, we can make today count and go forward, calling on our learning episodes and making things new and different. We could try out these four ideas :

• Lifelong Learning - always beneficial and fun, we can choose something we’ve wanted to learn or participate in doing. Local colleges provide a regular schedule of one-time classes.
• Travel Groups - how many of the U. S. states have we visited? How about that foreign country calling our name? Day trips are also a great way to see sites and meet others without a big commitment.
• Community Events - right in our hometown, there are plenty of occasions to use our skills, learn new ones, or volunteer and make our neighborhood better.
• Church Groups - just ask because the church can always use extra help. We will feel useful and needed for sure.

One for each week or one per month, totally up to you!

Tip of the Day

No matter our circumstances and lifestyle, there is a way to make a difference in our golden days. God provides what we need, when we need it, if we just ask. He doesn’t force Himself on us, but is always ready to help and will never, ever leave us! Just having the determination to do something with our lives that is worthwhile and beneficial is Step Two. Step One is placing our faith in the One True God. We can do that, can’t we?

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens” (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV).