Having just turned 61, there’s a lot of life in my rearview mirror. What’s exciting, though, is all that there is yet to be created and lived. One thing I’m very clear about is this: I don’t want to die before I’m dead.

That’s what lead me to Santa Fe, New Mexico and MEA (Modern Elder Academy) last week. Three beloved faculty members from The Hudson Institute of Santa Barbara facilitated a workshop – The Bonus Round, Creating A Meaningful Post Work Chapter – aimed at opening a portal to new adventures for people in midlife and beyond. I’ve been circling that door for a while and MEA allowed me passage through to the other side where what might be, can be, and, what can be, will be if I set intention and say yes…

So, a week spent with strangers, who soon became trusted inquisitors and also mirrors, allowed me to consider my next chapter. Additionally,  time spent with MEA’s equine herd took me squarely out of my comfort zone and showed me what I could learn about  evolution – theirs and mine.

I’ve been tasked to ask myself: how do I continue to evolve and bring forth my gifts in new and different ways? 

That’s where my love of languages entered the picture. I love spoken and written words – not a revelation but, rather, a confirmation. To my surprise, though, I turned firmly towards my art as inspiration and aspiration. In the sacred space at the Rising Circle Ranch, my cohort showed me what I hadn’t clearly seen before: art is a North Star for me. More specifically, art journaling…please savor an example of what I created this week to bring my MEA experience to life.

In this time of reentry, after returning home from Santa Fe, making time and space to see what emerges, in all forms of expression, will illuminate the possibilities ahead.  As Lee said to our cohort, “I may not know where I’m going but I know how to get there.”