“You’ve got to stop worrying about growing old, and start worrying about growing up!” – Dennis Hopper in the film Elegy

A big part of growing up is taking full responsibility for your own life and the choices you make today.

Blaming your parents, your genetics or our culture can only take you so far. You are still stuck with yourself. Wherever you go, there you are. Do you like who you are? If not, then change it. I’m not here to say it’s easy, I’m just here to say it’s do-able.

The reason I loved this quote from Dennis Hopper is that it encapsulates much of my own thinking about midlife. Unless we die soon, we will all grow old. There is no question of that.

But will we ever grow up? Will we transform ourselves into the kind of mature older adults (elders) we can be proud of, ones who take responsibility for all of our own actions? Elders of wisdom and vision who can help guide the young as they struggle in this confusing world?  Can we make ourselves a part of the solutions, instead of contributing to the problems of this world?

I say we can, and it all starts at home. I see so many out there trying to change the world when they can’t even change themselves. It’s true, you can’t change your past, but your future is totally up to you.

So, what’s it going to be? What could you do right now to choose a different future for yourself? How could you make a conscious effort to let go of just about all of your past baggage and move on? This moment is all we have for sure. Do it now!