Who has started something REALLY BIG after 50?

Life begins at 50? 

My life begins every morning.  Every day is the beginning of the rest of my life..  Everybody here knows this. 

I'd like to know what people here have done that have taken this seriously and radically changed their lifestyle for the more exciting or more fulfilling or just for the better after the big 50?

Is there a place in our life for boredom?

Re: Who has started something REALLY BIG after 50?

Can you define REALLY BIG, Andrew?

I would also ask– have I started anything REALLY BIG ever?

Re: Who has started something REALLY BIG after 50?

Really big could mean a complete change of lifestyle, moving to a different country.  Henry Ford didn't hit his straps until late in life when he introduced the production line.  Taking up parachute jumping or going insane in some other way.

I don't mean monumentally big, but PERSONALLY BIG.

Inspire us!!!!!!!!!

Re: Who has started something REALLY BIG after 50?

Q: Who has started something REALLY BIG after 50?

I have, said yours truly.
As you said, something personally
I have begun to exercise regularly

Work-out, qigong, yoga and selfishly
Planning my eating and drinking and thusly
Understood the joyfulness of a little kitty
For in my youth, said Mother Meeny
I did not know what it is to be light-hearted and happy
These long years have led me to spontaneity
Your turn [whoever is reading this weird old ditty]

Re: Who has started something REALLY BIG after 50?

Thats the NEXT big thing for me Meenakshi…

Re: Who has started something REALLY BIG after 50?

I have, said

Earon

Re: Who has started something REALLY BIG after 50?

Wow Earon. You’re second 50 has begun with a lot of creativity.

I am about to self publish my first book, In Search of Simplicity. It has been five years in the works and a huge personal mission fraught with resistance. But, we’re (my 18-year-old daughter who’s the editor is helping) going through the proof copy right now so the misson is almost accomplished and is very satisfying.

This summer I’ll be finishing the sequel. Our summer in New Zealand starts soon,

I’m in awe of all you energetic and creative people. We are making a difference.

John

Re: Who has started something REALLY BIG after 50?

Excellent!!!

Thats what I think this is all about.  Not what you've stopped doing but what have you started doing?

3 months after my 50th birthday I started a new business, repairing computers and coaching people in there use.  I've had no formal training on computers, they have been my hobby for years. 

It is incredible the people I've met through doing this, and the opportunities it has presented to help people, particularly the elderly (read anyone older than me).  I also get a buzz from young people (read MUCH younger than me) when I show them things they can do on their computers they had no idea about.

When I ask them how they feel about a fossil knowing more about their toys than they do they just giggle.

Life as it is given is good.

Re: Who has started something REALLY BIG after 50?

My therapist and my doctor are after me to write a book!
Me–I'm not a doctor or guru–I just made a decision that anyone can make.
I don't know–If I did write one I would title it “Get busy livin'.
And it would have a dedication page longer than the whole book.

Re: Who has started something REALLY BIG after 50?

It would appear you're drawn to the idea… Go For It !!!

Re: Who has started something REALLY BIG after 50?

Moved 3500 miles away at 52, and went back to get another masters degree….

Re: Who has started something REALLY BIG after 50?

My Life!!!

I feel as if life began at 50!  It was such an arduous journey before 50 and then I awakened to an entirely new reality!!!  My true spiritual path began at 50 and I began to embrace higher dimensional energies in an entirely new way!

Aley, 52 must be a magic number!  I had both feel on a banana peel going down a very, very slippery slope with no ski poles and my health was in the balances at 52.  My Light Beings began to come through with such clarity and one day showed me that it was my choice…I could “cross over” and leave this realm (such was the status of my physical health-my mental/emotional health was fully intact and prospering) or I could “choose to stay” and fulfill my destiny…obviously I chose the latter!!! 

I had already done all that I knew to do to improve my health (except become vegan…LOL)

I released 161 pounds (a whole person), began some alternative therapies based on quantum physics and am still here moving onward and upward!!!

It gets better every day!!!

The challenges are now viewed as opportunities rather than obstacles!!!!

THE BEST IS YET TO COME FOR US ALL!!!  I am feelin' it big time during this 21-12-08 to 12-21-08 corridor!


Love, Light and Laughter,
Starseed

Re: Who has started something REALLY BIG after 50?

Wow– that's right, Aley and Starseed. 52 is being a magic number for me too… I am inspired by your doing a master's, Aley. If the brain stays young, that's all that matters.
Starseed, did you mean the corridor till 2012 or the way it's written?

Re: Who has started something REALLY BIG after 50?

Meenakshi has asked that I expand on a model community that I have been working on for the last 9 years. Happy to do that. I feel that the need is so great now that I have a super urge to see it working for all of us. Let me tell you a little about it.

First of all, we all know that there are a lot of disassociated people out there right now. Many of these people are young. I am most interested in helping the age group 17 to 25ish. There is little out there in social services that can really support the needs of young people.They need more than a meal and then to be sent back out where they came from. Many are out of the home nest too early without life skills and job training. There are also a lot of young people who are expected to leave the foster system at 18 with the same issues . When you don’t have a home, a job and a clue as to how to make it happen for you; you can sink fast. There are many young people that find themselves just hanging with other kids to survive is such situations. Sometimes this can lead to hanging with folks that introduce unsavory lifestyles too.

It’s all about community. What does a young person need today to survive? Like everyone else, they need a warm safe place to live. They need life skills and job training and they need a plan for their future. They also need a lot of support in that plan.

Now comes the Village. I’ll tell you about a kid named Sammy aged 19.

Sammy comes toa nearby Village because he heard that he can learn to earn there. He shows up with a duffle bag crammed with his earthly posessions and not much more. He is introduced to the camp couple who run this Village 24/7. They offer him a hot meal a shower and fresh duds. Together they sit down to talk about what’s up with Sammy. Seems like an informal conversaton but these people are skilled interviewers that are doing a proffesional intake to help them understand Sammy’s needs, his compatibility levels with others in the camp, his hopes and his expectations. He’s a perfect candidate for training in a nearby Village that specializes in converting gas powered vehicles to propane. Seems that he is a natural mechanic and has a high level of interest and talent in regard to anything with an engine. He is introduced to the folks in this nearby Village and set up in his own home. Yes, he has taken a wise step and commited to spending one year at this Village. He will live in an older Motor Home that he and others will outfit with a propane running engine. He will also retrofit the interior with safe materials. He might even add a solar panel if he saves enough money for the matching fund program to do that.

He will be instructed in such foreign things as how to manage his budget, how to shop with attention to such things as nutrative values, he will learn how to cook for a crowd as that will be his job one day a week, he will clean his space and grounds and he will contribute to weekly community meetings where he may just share a little of his personal journal that every member keeps.

After his year at this Village, he can do several things. He can leave it and travel in HIS motor home to a job site anywhere in the country. He may network with other such Villages as an instructor and perhaps travel between them to teach and encourage other young people in their plans. He may just stay and continue to save money while he also contributes to his use of utilities, food vouchers, laundry facilities etc.at the Village that he has come to call home.

The point of this is that this young person was:

1 Heard

2 Encouraged and given “life support”

3 Supported in his chosen commitments

4 Turned out when he was ready to be a productive citizen with attainable goals

I have written to Obama, to Pickens and to my Senator. Actually got Senator Kilmer’s attention and hope to meet up with him. In the mean time he has asked if he may introduce my thoughts to his friends. BIG SMILE!!!!!

Please let me know your comments. Perhaps I can find others who would like to work on this with me. Am currently looking for a kind soul who will donate a piece of land to use who has no fear to begin the first one. And I am also seeking someone whomight help me get through the process of becoming a non profit organization so that I can accept donated motor homes or a portion therof of course. I did buy one for $2000 to start off but ended up giving it to my son who became homeless. It’s available again if I can get it back from eastern Oregon.

Have a great day and great plans~

Lynda

Re: Who has started something REALLY BIG after 50?

Lynda, this is just so wonderful that I am pretty speechless with wonder at what you’re doing. Talk of building bridges for people!

So have you started this village, and trained the interviewers? Are they all volunteers?

I really hope others here have thoughts and constructive ideas about what you are doing. Another place where you might get some help is at Sherrilene’s People Potential Pod.

Please keep us posted on how this develops. I feel that to do this, you have to know your environment very well. How did you know about the resources that you can direct people to? Have you always lived where you are now? Because when I think of doing this, I can’t even imagine how I’d know to do this.

Re: Who has started something REALLY BIG after 50?

Yes, once I get it out, it does kind of fill the room with silence. Some people begin shaking their heads right away, some look at me like I am nuts. I wait for those people who might be thinking similar thoughts to network with. This is by no means something that I can do alone.

I am trying to start a movement here for all intents and purposes! I have taken bits of an eco village model, the CCC camps of the 30’s and a little good ol commune living of the 70’s. The result is a working cooperative that works for the population I am focused on serving. And you know, it’s funny. As I listen to Obama’s words and nod and nod and nod, I know that he gets it. If I could only get him alone for 10 minutes to talk to him!

I have been informed in no uncertain terms that I am not done yet on this planet. This is what I must do, a knowing if you want to call it that. I have; over the years been blessed with occurances that have provided me with the tools that I need to begin but I will need help and lots of it. I am not looking for money from anyone here. But I would love to meet someone who might help me get that non profit status and perhaps write a grant or two.

I have been blessed with many hours of specialized training as a Family Advocate for Children’s Mental Health Services. I want to pay back the people who made that possible. Secondly, I feel that an alternative to DSHS services would be desireable to many who don’t want or need to get wrapped up in that mess. It also would help to take the pressure off so that they may serve the crunch of people seeking services from them now.

Training people on intake procedures and teaching wraparound service delivery is not hard. It is actually little more than being a focused human being that will delve into the inner workings of a fractured family and help them to make a plan that will be driven by them and supported by the group.

At this point I have lots of people that wish me luck. I do not have a physical place to start one yet. This is mostly due to the fact that I also need to keep a roof over my head and I have a full time job. I am lucky to get two days a week off to contribute my time to running the Village. But when it can happen they will have those days. Secondly, the issue of liability has stopped a couple of potential sites and of course there is always the “permission or permit” that someone usually thinks i must need. I am not expert in the legalities but I do tend to act and beg forgiveness later on things that drive me from my very soul.

Hope that answers a few questions and piques a few interested minds.

: )

Lynda

Re: Who has started something REALLY BIG after 50?

Lynda, I hope so too. I can see that you have  thought things through; and not only at the intellectual level; so let us see how they manifest. Sometimes, as we well know, they may manifest sort-of one degree away from how we think they will….

Lizzy, did you enjoy the class?

Re: Who has started something REALLY BIG after 50?

Ok this is REALLY BIG to me.

I am going to my first Tai Chi class with REAL people tonight at the local community college.

I have found a very nice yoga class.

It has been hard for me to go out socially-I am taking some big steps here.

Re: Who has started something REALLY BIG after 50?

Congratulations, Lizzyl on your recent weight loss!  I just read another thread and saw what you had written on Oct. 31st.   So, I know that these classes are a huge step for you! 

I wrote in a post above:

Re: Who has started something REALLY BIG after 50?

May you continue on your path with grace and ease!

Love, Light and Laughter,

Starseed