How to Live the Second of Half of Life to the Fullest!!  This could be over 40, 45, or 50.

Living my life as I crossed fifty years old, I noticed that my energy was waning, my enthusiasm was waning, my vitality was waning.  I DECIDED THAT WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE!!!!!!!!!!  Much of this info is included in my first blog post, “What is a Second Half Lion?” but I wanted to clarify here to let you know what this blog and YouTube channel is about, and who we serve.

Screw getting old!!!!!!!!!

Getting older is a fact, no one can stop the march of time.  Getting Old is a Choice.  There is a limited number of days on this earth, this also a fact.  As spirit beings, we will live forever.  As a earth stationed being we have limited time.  I am of the opinion as a Christian, that how I live my life on earth does determine how I live my eternity.  How I live my life on this earth does determine what kind of legacy I leave to my loved ones and also my legacy of the people I effect in a positive way.

Growing older is a fact of life, growing old is a choice.

I woke up several years ago and realized I was growing into a cynical, angry, sarcastic OLD FAT MAN.  My loving wife asked me, “why are you so angry all the time.”  I realized I had let my attitude harden into anger all the time.  Made me sick to my stomach.  What happened to my happiness, hopefulness, gratefulness, and future goals?  Had I just resigned to letting it all wind down, had the ship of my life already sailed?  I SAID NO, IN A LOUD VOICE.

I went on a several year journey to find my joy!  This was 2013-2015 roughly.  The first place I had to look is in the mirror.  In the last economic downturn, I lost my business.  Yes, I did cause this by not being correctly prepared for the inevitable downturn.  (side note, you need a larger war chest in reserve than you think you do.  He that saves the most wins.)  This really hurt my self-image and self-confidence.  I comforted my self with food and whiskey.  This is a bad combination for your health.  Finally, through much searching, I came to realize what I had to do.  What resources helped me the most?

• The Bible:   Many parts that cover attitude, the prodigal son parable most of all.
• Zig Ziglar: especially the “View from the Top”
• Anthony Robbins: Helped with perspective, focus on gratefulness, and end of suffering.
• Grant Cardone: sheer attitude, work ethic, and skill up education.  As he is older than me but looks way younger, he really helped with clearing out the crap attitude.

The result of this was me re-writing my personal mission statement.  I used the book, “First Things First”, by Stephen Covey for the info on writing my mission statement.  I hesitate to put my mission statement out there, as it is the most personal document I have, but I thought it could help some folks to write their own.  Please use this to generate some ideas, along with the book above to write your own Mission Statement.  My Mission Statement is at the bottom of this post.

I then created a morning routine to set my mind and heart on the right path daily.  My morning routine:

• Wake up and get out of bed immediately, no snooze.
• Immediately repeat in my head or out loud (I do not like to wake up my wife), “This is going to be a great day!”.  Sometimes this is done in the mirror in my hotel room.
• Brush and Floss my teeth.  Every victory is worth counting.  When my father was in his seventies his most important advice to me was take care of your teeth, the false ones suck!!!
• Drink a 16 oz glass of water with one TBS of apple cider vinegar.  Hydrate from the overnight fast.
• I start the coffee.  Saving the expense of purchasing on the road.
• I do twenty deep knee bends and 10 to 20 pushups depending on how I feel.  This wakes up my body from its slumber.
• I do a 10 to 15 min yoga stretch routine.  There are others, but this is a good one. Flexibility is important as you get older.

• Next, I read for 10 to 15 min.  Inspirational, usually the Bible.  I read one chapter of Proverbs, one for each day of the month.  One Chapter from Psalms.  One Chapter from the Old Testament, and two chapters from the New Testament.  What I do not finish in the morning I read in the evening.  I spend some of this time reflecting on why I am so grateful and thankful for this day and reflect on making this the best day I have ever lived.
• Next, I train or read in my profession for 15 min.
• I then work out if it is a work out day.  My current workout strategy is on my blogs, under the fitness category.  In general, I lift weights three to four days per week, and do HIIT cardio one to three days per week, depending on my goals.   I usually work out five days per week (sometimes six) and take one to two days off.  I do these when my schedule demands, or when my body demands.
• Lastly, I review my mission, vision, and goals.  My mission is the true north I am always striving towards.  My vision is my current active strategy to move towards my mission.  My goals are the marching orders for this year or several years, 90 days, and this week.
• I do my meditating in the evening, as my mornings are very early.  Just to get this routine in.

My mission is the true north I am always striving towards.

This routine really gets me on the right track.  Gets me reflecting on gratefulness and thankfulness.  Gets my mind off of Loss, Less, or Never.  All these things creep in and try to get me thinking about myself, selfishness is the root of all misery.  If Love is the ultimate expression of God, Selfishness is the ultimate expression of evil.  Love desires to give at the expense of self, while lust desires to take at the expense of others.  Selfishness is the expression of a deranged mind.  It is about others, not about you!!!!!

The conclusion is that I reset my mission, vision, and goals.  Got an attitude adjustment in what I was focusing on daily.  Studied nutrition, fitness more extensively, and took massive action daily to get my second half-life started and to prosper.  Prospering in $$$$, Love, Gratitude, Giving, and Happiness.  It is all working, this is the purpose and passion of my work here and on the YouTube channel by the same name.  I want to pass what I have learned along to others and create an awesome second half of life group of lions that are roaring with all their might to leave the maximum positive legacy to the next generations.  Please come on this journey with me, get involved, and engage.  Put all you have into building this life, our families.  The world needs us, and they need us in the worst way.  We have all the experience and wisdom, hard-earned by blood, sweat, and tears.  They need us to give 100% of what we have until our last day here.  Please decide to do it, decide today.  We have to give out energy, love, and passion for it to be necessary for it to be replaced.  Give out and it will be replaced in abundance.

“Do not go gently into that good night”

My Life’s Mission Statement

It is my life’s primary mission to bring glory to God in all that I am, do, and say. My life’s verse is Psalms 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength, and my Redeemer. “ This is my daily prayer and purpose.

I vow to live my life putting my wife, Bernadette, first place on earth, and being an example to my children and grandchildren of what a man of God can and should be. I will accept them as they are, encourage them to grow into and maximize their natural God-given gifts. I will love them unconditionally and give them a safe non-judgmental place to relax and just be themselves.

I make it my daily goal to live in a constant state of appreciation, gratefulness, and thankfulness for all the blessings and good things God has given to me. I will not allow myself to get “self-focused” and turn to a state of suffering, self-pity, and punishment. I will not focus on “LOSS”, “LESS”, or “NEVER” thinking. I will arrest all negative thoughts or memories the enemy tries to put in my mind and affect my emotions. I am a spirit, I will foster a Spirit-led life, and my spirit will dominate my mind, emotions, and body. My constant state of appreciation will bring about positive meanings, emotions, and positive massive actions toward my purpose driven goals.

I recognize that I am not an owner, but only a steward of the blessings God puts in my life. As I care for them they grow and flourish, as I neglect them they wither and die.

I have made friends with my past; I am focused on the present and am eternally optimistic about the future. My best days are ahead of me. My best day will be my final day which will be after I turn 100 years young.

I will focus my days on being a servant and not a master. In my work life and private life I will continually ask, “What can I do to serve more and better?” In service to others I grow my circle of influence, one day affecting the whole world for the Glory of God. Giving is living. I will give continually, I will put others first and constantly ask how I can help others. Give and then receive. Focus on Giving, the receiving will take care of itself. Money follows ministry.

A life well lived is about others, not self. Only in selfishness do we experience the lows and torments of life. I will learn and grow daily. I will search for and focus on Gods direction for my life.

Learning will continue until I go on to be with the Lord. My last day will be the day I learn the most. I will never be content with my growth. I can always grow more, and learn to be more Christ-like. In Learning and Growing, I can serve more people, and help more people reach their God-given potential.

I will live my life in a simple, austere manner. Being frugal with my financial stewardship and conservative with the blessings God gives to me. A simple, minimalist lifestyle will promote the least amount of clutter and the most amount of freedom. Freedom from the bondage of possessions and the mental chains they create.

My ultimate goal of this brief life is to leave an awesome legacy; first and foremost my family (children and grandkids) and the one or millions of people I help while on earth (God willing), and then one day hear from God, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”