Memoir
/ˈmemˌwär/ noun. a record of events written by a person having intimate knowledge of them and based on personal observation. Usually memoirs. an account of one's personal life and experiences; autobiography. the published record of the proceedings of a group or organization, as of a learned society.
Week 30 is almost upon us! Throughout our youth we plot, we plan, we work, we rest, and then we get up and do it again, and again, and again as the years keep slipping away. My life up until age forty-seven was a good reminder that there’s a price to be paid for everything in life, especially when it comes to achieving our goals and the things we long for. It’s so important to live consciously and continually ask ourselves if the price that must be paid is worth it. Different people have different answers and I can’t wait to read yours!
Memoir Monday has grown so much that I won’t be able to comment on everyone’s posts anymore (and get my own work done) but I’ll still be supporting your posts with reblogs, votes, and shares on my other social media accounts (X, Facebook, etc.).
For all of those who’ve regularly participated in Memoir Monday - keep going, you’re making great progress in chronicling your very own life story for future generations to enjoy.
For those who missed the inaugural post explaining what the Memoir Monday initiative is all about you can find it here.
Now for next week’s Memoir Monday prompt:
How do you plan to spend the next decade of your life?
My answer:
I turned fifty-three this year and it feels like the clock is ticking more quickly each year. As a result, priorities in life and bucket list items are beginning to feel a tad more “urgent” than they once did.
During the ages of eighteen and forty-seven so much of life consisted of working, saving, learning, and planning. I feel like I burned the candle at both ends and in the middle. I was hyper-focused on setting and achieving professional and financial goals and that forced me to concentrate too much of my attention on the future and not nearly enough on the present. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed my youth and the family and friends that surrounded me but probably not as much as I could have. As I sit here writing this I have no idea how I published so many books, articles, and poetry while working a full time job and all of the other responsibilities life inevitably put in my path. Setting these kinds of lofty goals requires a certain level of selfishness that come with a price.
What’s become apparent since I started working for myself in 2017 and is how much life a full-time job robs you of. A job demands so much more of you than just the hours you’re on the clock. Between chores, commuting, errands, work, stress, and sleep there isn’t a whole lot of quality time left. This kind of life forces you to perpetually look forward to weekends, days off, or vacations which also takes your attention away from the present moment. It makes so much of your life a blur.
Sometimes, I just can’t help but ask myself - Was I really the best spouse, friend, uncle, brother, and son that I could have been?
The next decade of my life will be all about being a more complete version of myself, it will be about enjoyment and evolution — slowing down, being more present, deepening my connections with friends and relatives, traveling, and evolving in general, continuing my meditation practice.
The pandemic of 2020 and the waves of health struggles people are experiencing in the years since then have made it glaringly apparent that life is fragile, precious, and incredibly unpredictable. These past four years have made me want to just strip away all the bullshit (the toxic people, the false friends, and things in life that don’t bring me absolute joy) and learn to just make the most of each moment.
My wife and I did a fair amount of global traveling between 2017 and 2020 and my plan is to resume this as soon as possible. Realistically, I know that my stamina and maybe even my desire to travel might change as I approach my mid-60’s. I want to see as much of the world as I can during this next decade while I have the energy, desire, and am fit enough to have these incredible adventures.
My plan is to continue to stay as active, both mentally and physically, as possible during this next decade. I also want to keep learning, reading, trying new hobbies, surrounding myself with kind, smart, and interesting people, and polishing my writing even if I never publish again. I think it’s imperative to stay curious as we get older or else we become stuck in a routine, prematurely brittle, and physically and intellectually stagnant.
The thing that has surprised me most about these last seven years of early retirement is how lonely it can be. What I didn’t count on was the fact that everyone else my age is still working. Because of this friends and relatives aren’t as free to hang out and go on trips. Hopefully this changes in the coming decade as many of these people reach retirement age themselves.
In these next ten years I just plan on making the most of each day and I want to try to be as true to myself and those closest to me as I possibly can be. The present moment is where both the lessons of life and the joy of life live and I don’t want to miss out on the profound experience of this any longer.
Rules of Engagement
- Please reblog this first post and share on other social platforms so we cast the widest net possible for this initiative;
- Pictures paint a thousand words. Include pictures in your posts if you have them;
- Answer each Memoir Monday prompt question in your own post. If possible, the prompt question will be published in the week prior so you'll have the entire week to answer and publish your own post;
- Have fun with it, don't worry about getting behind, or jumping into the project at any point after we've begun; and
- Lastly, be sure to include the tag #memoirmonday.
It's that simple.
At the end of the next twelve months we'll have created something immensely valuable together. It's so important to know our "whys" in life and there's no better way to do that than this.
Someday all that will be left of our existence are memories of us, our deeds, and words. It's up to you to leave as rich of a heritage as possible for future generations to learn from. So, go ahead, tell your stories. I can't wait to read them.
Be well and make the most of this day. I want to sincerely thank all of the participants thus far. I've really enjoyed reading your posts!
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Let’s Keep In Touch
Probably not surprising that my goals sound very similar to yours. The whole idea of savoring life is very prominent in my mind right now. Especially given the fact that I am going through my first bout with Covid. This thing is no joke! I haven't been this sick in decades! This past year my friend started a casual disc golf league and I decided to join. I played more this year than I probably have in the past ten to fifteen years and it was awesome. I hope to keep that up. I guess basically I want to be more conscious of what I choose to fill my time with.
When I was writing this I was trying to focus on things that were somewhat in my control, so much of life is outside of our control. I'm so sorry to hear you have Covid and I hope you're feeling better! It's running rampant. I think you're the only person I know who hasn't had it at least once before. Some folks are going on 4-5 bouts with it already. I had it in January of '23. I felt bad for about 2.5 days, the first night was the absolute worst, my heart rate stayed in the 100-120 bpm for about seven hours straight that evening. I'm glad you found a pastime you enjoy. I've never tried disc golf but it looks like fun. I damaged both rotator cuffs a few months ago so it'll be a while before I am able to throw a frisbee.
I actually think I messed up my rotator cuff too. I have had this constant pain in my shoulder. It's possible I had Covid before this, but it was either a mild case or I didn't test to verify it. I should put an Asterix by that to say this is the first verified case of Covid I have had. My biggest issues have been the temperature swings and the sinus pain.
It's so painful. Mine are healing little by little with time but my range of motion is only about 50% of what it used to be. I have a really tough time reaching above my head for things on shelves and such. I hope to avoid surgery because I've heard it's a tough one. It's so strange how Covid symptoms manifest differently in different people, even if they have the same strain of it. I mainly had the racing heart, fatigue, and chills. I developed a heart murmur after recovering so it did some damage. Thankfully it's minor. I wish you a speedy (and full) recovery!
I'm not even sure mine is my rotator, I just know I either hurt it disc golfing or starting the lawnmower and both of those motions are consistent with that area I guess. Yeah, I am finally feeling a bit better today. I decided to take the day anyway and I will start back fresh on Monday.
That was a smart move to give yourself another day and the weekend to recover.
The sort of plans that sound perfect at fifty-three, twenty-three and seventy-three and I love that. Make the most of each day. Travel. Can't wait to see you on the road again. I love this question and more so your take on it. I think you think the right kinda thoughts, Eric.
PS: While I admire the sentiment, it'd be a damn shame if you never published again (in some form or another), as you're a terrific writer, my friend :)
Thank you my friend! I can't wait to get back on that road. I really miss it. Facebook Memories are my arch nemesis because they remind me of how much traveling we were doing in years' past. On this very day a year ago we were exploring Blarney Castle and had one of the best meals in our lives in a little B&B we stumbled into after touring the castle. I will, for sure, keep writing (or else they would have to fit me for a straight jacket, Lol) but I just don't know if I'll ever publish a book again. I have eight chapters of this book on A.I. drafted but I think I've decided to release it as a series of articles instead of a book.
I just embarked on a new endeavor that is already sucking up my life, and happily so. Thanks for this great prompt, I just have to find the time, on account of this new endeavor! I really must though.
Wonderful! I'm glad you've found something like that. There is nothing better than to be consumed by things we love. That's kind of what makes life worth living. : )
Squeeze as much as you can in the next decade and the ones thereafter, time indeed seems to run away the older we become! Never stop doing the things you love; traveling, learning and experiencing new things.
I often think of you and how brave you were to grab the opportunity to live your dream and how amazingly well it worked out for you, and for your lived ones. Not only them, but also your readers.
I'm looking forward to writing on this topic as my time is running out, but there's still so much I want to do!
I certainly hope to make the most out of these next few decades. I can see how life is beginning to change in my fifties, everything feels more immediate and priorities are shifting. I was so terrified to take that leap of faith while I was in the moment, Lizelle, but it was almost as though the universe just opened the door after so many years of working towards the goal. It truly felt like I was presented with a once-in-a-lifetime decision of "right or left" at a crossroads -- left to a life of freedom or right for a life of working an office job until I retired. I'll never forget that phase of my life, it was so exciting. It also taught me a lot of lessons, like how to deal with success. It brought its own set of challenges. I'll forever be grateful for it. I'm sure you have many, many healthy years left! Are you planning to make it back to see your son soon?
I think that in the last paragraph of this text, you collect all the intention of life that I have for this second part. I like this week's theme because I want to see, 10 years from now, what I'm going to write this Monday on #memoirmonday. I must admit that sometimes I let the breeze take me, I irresponsibly leave many things to destiny (here in Venezuela there is a saying: As it comes, we will see). But sometimes God gives us some answers to our questions, using people to cross our path and talk to us about what we do not see. With this post I can think “where I want to row” in order to reach my goals. Like you, I also want to take up travel again, share more with friends, with family. I want to learn to be more active, like you, undoubtedly. Thank you very much for always adding, Eric. A hug
Don't you think that sometimes that breeze is like our mentor, sweeping us up to take us to the places we're meant to be? That's how I feel. The universe (which a higher power constructed) is intelligent and interactive, it presents lessons and clues for us to follow. I see that more and more the older I get. Thanks for your comment and for the support, as always Nancy! I wish you a wonderful Friday and weekend. We're having what will probably be our last stretch of warm weather before the temperatures plummet.
They say that the river does not hurry to reach the sea because it knows that this is its destiny. Take advantage of this weather and don't forget to keep warm. A nice Friday to you and the family, my friend. I embrace you tightly
There's such peace in living that way. Thank you! I'm heading out soon to have lunch with a friend on a sunny patio. I hope you enjoy your weekend my friend!
Photos, photos, photos.
What a great goal and life plan. I think now you are enjoying your perfect life. God bless you, Eric
Thanks, Eliana! Bless you and your family as well.
Life tends to move a great deal faster of late, travel sounds a grand plan, enjoy far away places, or travel within ones own country, much to learn.
!BEER
Life certainly is moving at a swifter pace!
Far too quickly... Have a wonderful weekend.
Life runs out of time, busyness doesn't. Busyness weakens relationships with relatives, and this is your regret. But you are living a good life
Yes! Busyness is always waiting in the wings, isn't it?
Good evening my brothers. Always be healthy to all of you.
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Quite a very thoughtful question that everyone of us should be cautious of and ask. We should start planning. For me I want early retirement
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I too believe that I had learnt a lot during pandemic time. Who will be their and who will not.? A good learning experience I can say. All the best for you to explore more with your wife.
That's 10 years from now. Maybe I go and make out a plan due to this @ericvancewalton😊
My mind is clear that I will be spending most of it by travelling, if my health and economic situation allows me ;)
I think this is an excellent goal. To travel as much as you can in the next ten years is a great idea. As you get older, energy loss is inevitable and there may even come a time when you feel the need to spend more time at home. In the meantime enjoy the planes, boats and the road. Be well dear @ericvancewalton . A big hug from Maracay.
There cannot be anything better than this. At this age, we realize the importance of blissful life, that searches for more happiness, not necessarily with money.