Turning 60 & Following The Advice of an Earlier Article
In September of 2020, Ramae Hamrin wrote, Turning 50 with Blood Cancer. The article was about turning 50 and trying 50 new things. I loved her post and was in awe of her goal. In February 2021, I turned 60 and plan to follow her advice. My goal: to try 60 new things.
How it started
This idea started with my mother. She passed away from lung cancer and at that time, I decided I would start doing some of the things I’ve always wanted to do. With her death, I realized how short life can be. Losing her took a toll on me then that has lasted until this day. I wanted to honor her by doing some of the things she would have liked to do. The problem was, my job got in the way more often than not.
Then my daughter, Crystal, got cancer and now that she has gotten a clean bill of health, she is trying all kinds of new things. She has learned to appreciate each day and says yes to things more often than she says no. Then I read Ramae’s article and was so impressed with what she said, I knew this was something I wanted to do as well.
Next steps
So my next step is, figuring out 60 things that I haven’t done before. When you are lucky enough to live to 60, you have done a lot already. But there are still so many things left to do. The plan: start a list that includes all those things on my bucket list and ask others what they do. My thought is, you can’t do the things you don’t even know exist.
Step 1: Search each of the states to find out what attractions they offer. I’ve been to a lot of states, but haven’t always gotten to enjoy some of the treasures they have to offer. So travel is on my list and will probably fill a lot of the 60 spots. I also have a couple of books I’ve been wanting to read, and of course, trying new foods is a must. But I do have a couple of particular things that I’d like to try.
I am one of those people who likes the term, ‘It’s better to be safe than sorry.’ I still believe in those words, but sometimes you also have to take a chance. So I have a shortlist of things that aren’t too dangerous but do have a little bit of risk. They include:
- Snowmobiling
- Cross-country skiing
- Snowshoeing
- Kayaking
- Paddleboarding
- Snorkeling
- Half marathon
- Segway tour
- Bike tours
- Retire
Of course, there is so much more, but this is the list I have so far.
Making a change
Every now and then you have to change things up in your life. Sometimes you figure that out yourself and sometimes you need to read a post by a very special person. Getting out of our comfort zone can be unsettling, but can open so many new doors. I’m looking forward to the surprises my 60th year will bring. I am so grateful for the opportunity to turn 60 because I know it’s a blessing not everyone gets to experience.
If you have an idea for me or a special place to visit, I would love to hear about it!
Wishing you health & happiness.
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