From the perspective of my age, early 80s, I believe a vital senior would benefit from knowing who they are (self-identity) to guide what to do (life experience) to assess how it’s going (quality of life, as determined by wellness, connectness, passion, purpose and peace).
Recently I felt the urge to list my self-identity dimensions, to check if I’m living an optimal life – according to my its vision and values. I came up with a dozen, which I used as the outline of my poem to celebrate and clarify how good my life is. Whether your life’s list is long or short matters less than claiming what makes you unique, valued and competent as a senior – to create your best life yet and enable you to be of service to others.
Your self-identity list could lead to creating a poem, as I’ve done, or other formats – such as a short story, email, video, performance piece, autobiography, meditation guide, and word art. Beyond the poem below being my personal statement, I hope it serves as an illustration to encourage and inspire you to author, appreciate and apply your self-identity – one that is mature, long-and-hard-earned, wisdom-filled and gloriously you.
How to describe myself to me? … to others?
In accepting my fullness will they too?
Enough self-hiding … here’s who I am
Love … the core on my humanity
Family or friends … casual or committed
With an open, caring, giving heart
Jewish from birth … a prized heritage
Curious to sample other traditions
Spiritual awakening … anchored wisdom
Gay since a kid … closeted until age 50
Stigma erased by spiritual awareness
An instant-straight pill marketed … nope!
Exploding Creativity … risking “you’re crazy”
Edgy poems, stirring songs, vibrant lifestyle
Forget the ordinary … seek secret treasures
Persistent Positivity empowers my sanity
Affirming thoughts … vital commitments
Confidence soars as insights guide me
On Stage revealing my life’s mysteries
Expressing raw feelings to audiences
From imagination springs show-and-tell
Wonderful friends around the globe
Awed by human diversity’s brilliance
Multicultural bonds yield inner knowing
My Holistic gears alchemize harmony
Cultivate the parts to harvest synergy
Enhanced living for radiant well-being
Multiple roles sculpt keep me stretching
Teacher, coach, healer, singer, poet, etc.
The experiences enrich my essence
Excited in cities … peaceful in Nature
Clears my head … animates my heart
Illuminating my true Human Nature
Evolving beyond my pain traps
Actualizing greater Human Potential
Feeling passion, purpose, peace
Ignited by my Soul … trusting intuition
Portal to Divinity … life’s riddles unravel
Inspiration leads me to elevated realities
Learn more about Adventurous Aging, how seniors can use our self-identity to create a wisdom-powered life, check out https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100082105301582. You can contact Larry at larryros@gmail.com, or +1-928-202-0010 (USA, Eastern Time).
Larry Rosenberg’s life mission is to share consciousness, creativity, connection and contribution. Post-retirement, he founded The Larry Show, one-person musical and inspirational shows based on his life’s wisdom, and Adventurous Aging, holistic wellbeing coaching and workshops for people 60+ to reset their life from retiring to refiring. Prior to these enterprises, his 50-year career included higher education in marketing (New York University and University of Massachusetts Amherst), international management training (University of Maryland Global Campus, Tokyo), innovative business consulting and coaching, and holistic health corporate communication. He earned a BS from Drexel University, and an MBA and PhD (Marketing) from The Ohio State University. He lives in Pompano Beach, Florida, where he delights in the area’s tropical lifestyle, cultural diversity, and business vitality.
Learn more about Adventurous Aging for Seniors, a coaching service, at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100082105301582. You can contact Larry at larryros@gmail.com and 1.928.202.0010 Eastern Time.
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