Well today is my 39th birthday. While it beats the alternative, 39 is not so flattering to me. It’s almost 40 and that seems old to me (no offense). I don’t feel 39 and I sure don’t act like it. But I thought I would make the most of it by identifying 39 things (truths, lessons, principles) I have learned in 39 years. I will take one a day for the next few weeks. These are just my thoughts and I hope you enjoy and if you so desire, share them with others.
Day 1
Most games are won in the second half – The same is true in the game of life
I had a tough mental day back in May of this year. It was the end of the school year and graduation was in the air for all of the seniors around town. I thought back about my own High School graduation and realized that it didn’t take very long for 21 years to go flying by. But then at the very same time – I mean immediately, my brain was able to mathematically compute than in 21 years from now, I will be eligible to tap into my 401K retirement. I told you it was a tough day. So 21 years ago and 21 years from now; do you know what that means for me? Yep, you got it….Halftime (Call it mid-life if you must)! Not just halftime in any game, but halftime in the most important game of all – life!
Here’s what I have learned about halftime from watching sports. Halftime is about catching your breath, evaluating what you did right and wrong in the first half, and most importantly, making those necessary halftime adjustments. You can’t un-do the first half, but you can certainly learn from it. And in order to win, you must reflect and adjust in order to win.
The question becomes, what is your definition of a win? Zig Ziglar says that adults go through phases. I call them the 4 “S’s.” From survival to stability, from stability to success, from success to significance. All of life is about significance. Ironically, it takes us much of the first half to figure that out. Wherever you are, whether it is in the first half, halftime or even late into the second time, it is never too late to make the necessary adjustments in your life to win the game of life.