The next Chapter

Have we ever considered what happens when we finish perhaps a piece of craft work, some knitting or sewing, or we come to the end of one job, or at a memorable birthday? It might well spark a moment of inspiration that conjures up our next project, the sequel to our work, the next chapter in our life! What is important is that we don’t limit ourselves but that there is more.

Often as we get older we feel that the door to this next phase in our life may be closing, when possibly we can envisage the situation as another door opening – if we dare to look into that space. We might perceive that as a dark hole, uninviting; however, we might also see it differently – as a room containing the next chapter. Our whole life is part of our journey, each episode a chapter with a theme, a focus and a conclusion…which leads us, inevitably, to the next chapter.

What’s next?

So consider where we are today on our journey in life. What do we think about the future? How large is this ‘room’? Are we envisaging a sea view or one which has a verandah or sun deck? Perhaps it’s the furniture which is important, or the colour? But that’s not realistic or pertinent we might say.

We might feel that the dark clouds are already starting to loom, immediately as we ponder this. We might have already turned off, not wishing to see what is next. What could be positive in that future?

The next Chapter…

Rather than see it as the future, let’s compartmentalise it – which is easier to say than spell often.

As we venture forth, in our mind, to the future, what opportunities might it hold for us? Whether that’s in the workplace or wherever we are. It could mean that we have more time to spend on our hobby(ies), or with others in conversation, or if we prefer, alone with our own thoughts. It’s an interesting perspective to consider that introverts might actually prefer to be on their own for a time to build up their mental reserves, rather than be in a dynamic conversation. So what’s next?

Who are we?

This brings us to ask us who we are. The mid-life crisis, anecdotally, is when we suddenly realise what we have done with our life, what’s been missing and realising what what we need to do know to reclaim everything – if that is possible. It could be a critical moment in our life when we pivot on that life trajectory to somewhere new, radical, different. I’m not suggesting that we all get a Harley Davidson motorbike or fast car and race off into the sunset in California: with or without dog – but if that’s what you want, go do and enjoy.

Regardless whether it is a mid-life crisis or not, that is quite a material pivot, whereas we might also reflect on our character, what kind of person are we. This could be a time when we identify for ourselves, an important consideration, that we may not be as significant or kind as others might envisage. We all have our persona that we offer to others, our Sunday best?, but when, out of view, we might revert to a more negative sense.

I might be describing myself here rather than any reader. Fortunately we might know ourselves better than anyone else.

This is also an opportunity to make such changes, for our benefit as well as others near and far from us. Things can change if we so desire. What that does do is change the layout of the room in that next chapter of our life. It might, metaphorically, change the colour of the wall paper or paint scheme in that room – it might be brighter now. We might be encouraged to venture into that room because of the changes we have made mentally and/or physically.

Scripts

As we contemplate this new room we have some ‘advice’ on what might work for us. That advice may come from ‘ourselves’…or that’s what we might think. People may have spoken to us over the years and told us that we are not good enough. Lauren Daigle says in her song You Say:

I keep fighting voices in my mind that say I’m not enough
Every single lie that tells me I will never measure up

Am I more than just the sum of every high and every low?
Remind me once again just who I am because I need to know

Lauren Daigle ‘You Say’

These internal voices seem to be as clear as they were first said to us. They are known as scripts, thoughts which run on repeat – often at 4 in the morning – but may not suvive with rational thought. What we might not recall is that the people who have said some things to us initially were struggling with their own turmoil. The comments, which we felt were so hurtful, were liberally scattered because of their own trauma, projected due to their circumstances. Those barbs were generated by them, and not aimed at us – no matter what we feel now. It can be difficult to disassociate ourselves from such comments. But these thoughts and criticisms can, potentially, drag us down, prevent us from moving forward.

Lauren Daigle continues:

The only thing that matters now is everything You think of me
In You I find my worth, in You I find my identity

This can release us, allow people to move forward and enter that new room, the next chapter.

God?

In all this, where is God? If God is what might drive our desires, to show such love to others, we might also see that the room we are peering into might also take on a spiritual perspective. Having God in our life might well change the room layout – in a good way. It becomes not just our own thoughts but what God desires for us and others. It is a room for ‘we’ rather than ‘me’. There may well be more doors available in this room because there is a purpose, of being with God. Paul speaks in Romans 5 about that the circumstances of life lead to endurance, to help us change our character which leads ot hope. This entwines the materialistic and the spiritual into one all-encompassing life-giving umbilical cord.

But life is hard…

There is no getting away from the fact that life here can be hard, more so today with rising costs. As these costs spiral, our material aspirations may well diminish. Again that next room’s dimensions may well now change. But here we might be limiting our perspective based upon the material vision of that future room. Take it into a new spiritual dimension. What might we see of our world which brings us joy? When we go out and see the school children playing, or the swan landing gracefully on the lake, or the robin looking back at us on the branch of a tree, or the meeting of the eyes of two people in a shopping mall when we have both sat down for a rest: here is an opportunity to see a new dimension, one in which there is beauty, if we dare to look and see.

So what?

Whatever age we are, we might have hope in opening the door to the next chapter in our life. The room we might envisage for the next stage of our life is open for discussion. Its dimensions are limitless if we care to be prepared for that. The colour may not be dour if we allow splashes of colour to infiltrate, to add an additional axis from the physical, mental and/or spiritual realm. The limitation, the impasse, may welll be us, and our desire for welcoming change – even at a later stage in our life.

I am considering the options now. How can I open up the potential fo rthis next chapter rather than reducing the possibilities because of fear of the unknown. How about you?