Cam Taylor

Be inspired. Be focused. Be tenacious.

Love What You Have

Your concern is not so much to have what you love anymore, but to love what you have – right now. — Richard Rohr

Two things have been happening in my life simultaneously. On the one hand, I’ve been embracing the second half of life while on the other hand, going through a prolonged season of recovery and transition unlike any thing I’ve experienced.

rose-thriving

Two things are becoming clear: 

  • Certain things in life are worth hanging on to.
  • Certain things in life are better dropped.

There is a real difference between the first and second half of life. This isn’t a new insight to me but is a different perspective that has opened up my mind to new discovers. I’m not exactly sure where the switch over took place but when I look at the characteristics of each half, I feel most definitely to be in the second half.

One of the characteristics of the second half is expressed in the opening Rohr quote.  Second half living is about coming to the place in your life where you learn to love what you have and are not so obsessed with going after what you love (and don’t have).

Richard Rohr in his book Falling Upward calls this shift a “monumental change from the first half of life, so much so that it is almost the litmus test of whether you are in the second half of life at all.”

First half of life issues include:

  • survival
  • making a name for yourself
  • impressing others
  • being successful
  • getting married and starting a family
  • building a platform for life
  • getting established in a career
  • figuring out how you fit in

Second half of life issues include: 

  • thriving
  • making an impact
  • finding significance
  • clarifying purpose
  • right-sizing not just down-sizing

Transitions in life create opportunities to push life’s pause button and ask soul searching questions. I’ve done a lot of soul searching over the past three years and am starting to realize how much I’ve changed for the better. I’m still a work in progress, but I’m moving in the right direction!

Some of the questions I’ve been asking myself include:

  • What needs to change in “who I am” not just in “what I do?”
  • Who are my true friends and how am I cultivating those friendships so they last?
  • What elephants in the room of my life need to be escorted out?
  • What are the big rocks in my life I “must” pay attention to?
  • What am I wasting my time doing that needs to be eliminated from my life?

You don’t have to wait for a life changing event to start asking deeper questions about your life and how you want it to play out during the second half. If you are feeling a stirring within your soul to go deeper, live with greater purpose, and pursue a life of significance, you might be on the cusp of the second half.

Which half of life are you in based on the opening quote?
What question would open up deeper understanding if you spent some time reflecting on it?

Image source: Free image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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About Cam Taylor

Coach, author, speaker, father, friend, leader, life long learner.

6 Replies

  1. Hi Cam, Another GREAT blog post. I’ve known for a while that something major in my life has changed in the last 3-5 years. Something that has transcended even the changes themselves. What I haven’t always been convinced to be “good news” is, I’m still alive to tell about it! You’ve shown me otherwise. I’ve spent the past while evaluating where I’m at and how I want to do life differently from this point on. Thank you for taking me by the hand and showing me the way. Based upon what you’ve so eloquently shared, I think we’re both on the right track! One step at a time!

    1. Thanks Lisa for opening up the window of your heart in your comment and giving a glimpse into your own learning the past few years. As I’ve read your writings and gotten to learn from you, I couldn’t agree more that “we’re both on the right track!” I’m running (on the inside) to the finish line of the 2nd half with you!

  2. Jp

    We’ll written Cam … I really like ( and agree) with your first Half / Second Half focus areas in life. Also agree with not waiting for a major event in life to begin reflecting. Have a wonderful long weekend !

    1. Thanks Jp for your comment – it reminds me of the quote “how we spend our days is how we spend our lives” & that is a choice. Enjoy your weekend as well!

  3. Dana

    Cam, Are you going to write and self-publish a book of these posts? If so, I would probably keep a copy next to my bed!

    Regards,
    Dana

    1. Hi Dana,
      It’s great to hear from you. Thanks for the encouragement to put my blog into book form. That has been my intention from the start so I continue to be committed to that goal. I have another book coming out this month on the topic of the transition within church communities so once I get that book published, I will give more focus to this next writing project. I do hope you are keeping well. Cam

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