Echos At Fifty and Over

Barb Franzen-
   My son is now close to forty and someone I admire a great deal. One day back when he was in high school  he surprised my husband and I. He wanted to share his favorite quote-Perhaps you have heard it. It goes: Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion; you must set yourself on fire. I liked the words. Apparently he decided to live by them as today he is a head college football coach who has said-"It's about more that winning a game. The other task is getting rhese young men ready for the adult world; it's preparing  tham to lead productive and responsible lives". I agree. And what is our task as women in middle life?
-   In order to be successful we must be and act responsibly. This doesn't mean we can't paint rainbows or do some scribble art or bat a balloon around. What does responsible mean? It means that as women we take charge of our health, guard our finances act with integrity and tthoughtfulness, give to charities-mine is veterans and abused animals-volunteer...It means that we take time to know ourselves and our needs and while developing our skills. Most importantly ...we do not sit and wait for the world to come to us with open arms-it doesn't work like that. We must spontaneously combust; thereby taking sn aactive role in fulfilling our goals. if  you aren't on fire by fifty, it's time to strike the match and get out of the nest. Ask yourself this? What are the echos I want to leave behind so that I will have made a difference for those who follow in my footsteps? It might be a roomful of quilts, a book, recipes you wrote, research that was done by you, a colorful family tree, the worlds most creative scrapbook, becoming a senator? Whatever it is, act...light the match  to combustion and live...Leave echos. Fifty or over...you are nowhere near done. Enjoy life.