Greetings from My Mountain Cabin,
One of my favorite values clarification exercises is an activity that I call, "Lifeline." I have often facilitated this experience during my conference break-out sessions. I invite you to give it a try when you have a spare moment.
Position a 6"x4" blank index card horizontally. In the center of the card, draw a line parallel to the bottom edge. Leave a half inch or so from the left and right sides.
At both ends of the line, draw a small dot. These represent definitive points of reference.
Above the left hand dot, write your birth date—month, day and year. This was a special day—a moment in time when the new life that is you appeared in our world.
Now take a moment to reflect upon the longevity of your immediate biological family.
✶ Were your grandparents, parents and siblings long- or short-lived?
Also, critically assess your own living habits.
✶ Are you more than ten pounds overweight?
✶ Do you smoke or drink alcohol excessively?
✶ Are you sedentary?
✶ Do you take unnecessary risks?
✶ Do you rigorously exercise at least 3X per week?
✶ Do you make a conscientious effort to eat foods that are healthy and life-sustaining?
✶ Are you basically a happy person, or do your friends charge you $25 per month just to put up with your grumpy butt?
Taking into account all of the above, make a SWAG (Scientific Wild-Assed Guess) and "predict" how long your lifespan will be. Sixty years? Ninety Years? Certainly this number is not cast in concrete. This exercise should be regarded a simple diversion and not as immutable.
As of this writing, the average life expectancy of an American male is approximately 75 years. Females tend to live five years or so longer. Of course, "average" implies there are people having longer and also shorter lifespans.
Add the number of years to your birth date and you will "see" the exact day your life on earth will end! Write this date above the right hand dot. You now have a pictorial representation of your lifespan.
Estimate the location of today's date on your continuum line. Place an "X" to mark this reference. Perhaps examining your index card will prompt a few emotional responses:
✶ How do you feel about the relative position of the X on your line?
✶ Does looking at your card elicit a fear reaction?
✶ Is your remaining time an opportunity for continuing growth and exploration or are your best years behind you?
✶ Assuming your parents or grandparents are still with you, how would they feel about doing this exercise? your older or younger siblings? children?
I have a vanity license plate on my car that reads, "On Final." The phrase refers to what I consider the most fun part of flying—the final approach before landing. Gently descending, watching the ground rise up to meet my airplane, and hearing the chirp of the tires as I grease her on, is a special experience. (p.s., I am not always so skilled. As pilots are fond of saying, "Any landing you can walk away from is a good landing. A great landing is one where you can actually use the airplane again.")
A one mile run around a track usually consists of four laps. In the race of life, I am in the last lap. And that is quite OK. I am "On Final." I am doing exactly what I want to be doing and having a blast. Life has never been more fun.
The remainder of my lifeline is abundant with potential. Yours can be as well, irrespective of the location of your "X." Just make it so.
Be well, do good work, keep in touch,
Ed
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