Tales from a Mid-Lifer

In no particular order…

1. Virtually nothing plays out in reality like I plan it in my head.

2. People are increasingly uncomfortable with silence.

3. Really really good humans get overlooked all the time in this TikTok, look-at-me influencer, terribly distracted world. I choose to notice and appreciate these gems. 

4. Others are far more preoccupied with themselves than me. I must stop worrying about them in 2026.

5. Be careful what you pray for. God really is listening and answering.  

6. I will occasionally upset some unreasonable folks no matter how hard I try not to – because they are unreasonable. 

7. I can “do it all” to stay healthy and look younger than I am, but my body is different and I’m still aging. 

8. Family norms change and transform as adult children gain significant others. The ease of the once-contained little nucleus shifts, then resettles into a new version.

9. Though journaled at the end of the day, gratitude isn’t usually my initial, immediate response in the moment. I’m continuing to practice. 

10. Everyone still enjoyed the holidays despite our twenty+ Christmas traditions dropping to ten during this wild relocation.

11. There is beauty in chaos. 

12. There is terrific humor during crazy times. 

13. My 2025 verse: I walk by faith (2 Cor 5:7), not by my feelings nor circumstances. I’ll be bringing this practice in my 2026 carryon. 

14. The empty nest is still a little hard.  

15. God’s answers to prayers always arrive in unexpected ways. 

16. People can be exhausting. I didn’t always feel this way. Humanity in general has changed and I’m no longer a super-fan. I still love and engage, but then require quiet time to release the nonsense and reset. 

17. On the above note, some are straight-up determined to bring you down and keep you small alongside their miserable selves. I’m saying no thank you to those folks this new year. 

18. God can and does use anyone to make a point or offer conviction – He doesn’t only operate in the body of Christ. He is after all, the Creator of the literal universe. He uses whatever and whomever to get my attention. 

19. Mid-life diminishing skin elasticity and muscle loss is depressing. 

20. Yet, these bodies that house our spirit? Truly – “fearfully and wonderfully made”. I must take more thoughtful care of it with each passing birthday. 

21. Greater humility accompanies aging.  

22. There will always be something to do (think “chores”). The urgent vs. the important as Steven Covey said in his famous book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. The important must replace the urgent.

23. Some days, Murphy’s Law seems very real. 

24. Every day, God’s blessings are very real. 

25. Perseverance isn’t optional.

Thank you for reading – have a blessed week ahead!

Featured image source: Pinterest