Hello there friend!

Greetings from the desert. It's week 2 of our 6 week trip, and after a 90 minute nap today, I'm feeling so good!

I saw this ginormous cactus on my walk this morning, and I was struck by how this thing had just kept growing and growing.

I don't know much about cactus' but I do know that these Saguaro cactus don't start growing arms until they are between 50 and 70 years old! So my guess is this one is an oldie.

And I thought what a perfect concept to consider!

Add that to a study I heard about where 1000 CEOs were asked when their most productive years were...and guess what?!?

These top leaders said their most successful and profitable decades were in their 50s and 60s!

I love that we can look at these years as our most fruitful and productive. We can expect the best we have to offer is yet to come.

So how do we make sure we stay focused on all the good waiting in the years ahead rather than get stuck looking back...(I know, our kids really were adorable when they were little! :) Here are a few ideas:

1. Savor the situations you are already enjoying. Do you have a Bible Study you already love? Friends you enjoy having dinner with? A home that's peaceful and serene? These are some of the good things you already have that you can be grateful for and appreciate. Be sure to take time to enjoy them. The more you notice them, the more you'll, well, enjoy them.
2. Look for ways to expand your influence. What do you love to do? Are you a reader who could offer your expertise at a local school? Or did you play tennis in college, and now you have time to coach a local junior team? Or do you have a green thumb that could be put to good use at a local co-op? There are alll kinds of ways to offer your expertise and experience at this time of life. Look for and take advantage of ways to do this.
3. Actively seek out new ways to grow. There's something magic that happens in our brain when we do new things. Wires that might be getting slow and crusty are suddenly called upon to get active and moving. Trying something new can be amazing (for me, painting) or horrible (for me, Mahjong) and no matter which direction you go, you'll never go wrong looking for ways to experience the novel and new.

These are just a few ideas. What are you trying to do to make this time of life your most fruitful, productive and profitable? Hit reply and let me know. I'd love to hear all about it.

For now, I'm off to finish today's painting. (They've been drying while I write this.) Tomorrow I have the first of several art classes I'll be taking while I'm here in the desert. If you follow me on Instagram, you can see what I come up with.) :)

Much love and cheering you on,

Christy