Stages of Life

When you reflect back on life there are some pretty simple stages. There is childhood, the teenage years of rebellion and trying stuff on, and the 20's where you think you have it all together, graduate, get married and start having kids. Then comes middle age and the family rearing years. Before you know it, you are in your 50's at the top of your career and thinking about retirement.

THEN you are retired, or in my case, still working full tilt, teaching, and volunteering for extra 'stuff'. It is also a time in your life when you start reflecting on the big question, "Is that all there is? "

It is also fairly easy to do the Math to figure out how many years you have left. Then you subtract off the years at the end of your life span and you are left with a figure that may just give you a decade of quality life. Been there, done it, it is kind of depressing. I have a friend whose, whose favourite saying is, "What to do?" I asked myself the same question.

 We have all heard the expressions, "Life is not a dress rehearsal", and 'You only go around once". They start to take on real meaning later in life. What to do? You can travel halfway round the world, you can simply travel, looking for new experiences and wonders in the world, you can volunteer and do good deeds, you can meet new people from different cultures, or you can simply live your life the way you always have and wonder, "What if?"

I decided to try on some new things in life. Along the way, I lost my marriage, and someone who was very dear to me. Kind of reminds me of the Arlo Guthrie song with the lyrics, 'You can't always get what you want, at Alice's restaurant'. Then there is my favourite, "I don't want a pickle, just want to ride my motorcycle!" (pronouncd motorsickle). By now, you are probably thinking Jim has lost some of his marbles. Some folks think so, but I don't. You can judge for yourself.

So, the big question that you are thinking about may be, "Does Jim have a romantic interest and is that why the marriage broke down?". The answer to that is no, so sorry to disappoint you. I wish :-)

I live alone, do the same old things like go to work in the morning, come home in the afternoon, make dinner, read a little, and go to sleep. Kind of like my dog in the park outside my window. I have to make a point of taking him some food one day and see if he needs a friend.

So, what does the future hold? That is a really good question. In the short term, I will continue as is. There are some items on my bucket list I have to attend to, like my motorcycle circumnavigation of North America with my son Jordan. Then there is the tour of tour of legendary NCAA basketball stadiums with Coach Brown and any other basketball junkie who wishes to join us. I wish to relocate to British Columbia sometime in the future and I would not say no to coaching some youth basketball if the opportunity arose.

I am travelling to Singapore, then Vancouver for Jordan's graduation on April 30th. I then travel to Ottawa on May 3rd for a little business and to meet with my lawyer. I then fly to London, England, on May 7th, and then on to Singapore, and then back to Malaysia. That will tick off another item on my bucket list, circumnavigating the world in 10 days.

I am now Head of Instructional Technology for Taylor's College. In particular, I am in charge of implementing 'Disruptive Technology' at Taylor's. Those of you who know me, will be smiling, saying Jim does know how to be disruptive.

That is enough for now. I am doing the Prescott in Ottawa as soon as I get back. Give Coach Brown a call if you wish to join us.

TTYL,

Jim