Time is your most valuable resource. Spend it on you and yours first.
E222: Lessons from your 60-year-old future self. Writing from conversations on the beach
“I wish I’d met you 15 years ago”
TL;DR:
Conversations (aka lessons from your 60-year-old future self):
Self-care starts with time-boxing- put time for you and your important people on your calendar first
Never too late to learn new skills. Mentoring and supporting others contributes to their success
Motion is Lotion: keep ourselves active in mind and body as we age
🧭 Theme for Cycle 32: Writing from conversations …
on the beach
We were cooling off with conversation while paddling in the warm, turquoise waters off the stunningly white Aruban beach. Sipping on delicious virgin mojitos that reminded me of the limbo pani in Goa that replenishes the crucial salts, served in the insulated cups we were each asked to bring to reduce waste.
And chatting. About life. Birthdays (four on our group were celebrating their 60th birthday!). Grandchildren. Children. Aging. Aches. Pains. Securities and insecurities. Pre-, post-, and retirement-planning. You know, the kind of conversations that you get to have when you are not planted face-down into the screen in your hand.
“I loved my job,” said one new friend, her passion evident on her face.
“So, have you retired?”
“Not by choice. Did you know I had a stroke last year?”
That sudden stroke robbed her of the joys of her job. She lost the use of the right side of her body. She has fought back really hard, and if she had not shared that piece of information, I would have been none the wiser. Neither her actions, her energy, nor her speech betrayed that long journey back. “Learning to swim again is my last 2% of recovery.”
She had been in governance. Risk and risk mitigation. Discussing coverage, caring for other people’s money and protecting them. Racing from deadline to deadline. Being superwoman - at home and at work. Honestly enjoying her work and life and believing she could do it all. Along the way, though, the stress built up and suddenly her body called quits in dramatic fashion. The one person she had not protected adequately was herself.
Proactive rest is an act of self-care. It is not a luxury item.
We chatted about my advocacy for proactive rest (cue the compendium links to rest elements 22-26 below!). In a world that is only getting more laden with signals, we need to find the quiet.
It starts with your calendar. Time-boxing is a ‘pay yourself first’ strategy. The first commitment on your calendar is to you and yours. Managing our schedule to protect time - which is a non-renewable precious asset - is an essential 21st-century skill.
“This is so interesting. I wish I’d met you 15 years ago.”
Progress Report
What does “pay yourself first” look like in practice?
Reporting back on the three mini goals I’d set for this trip:
Proactively connect with people and nature: I want to see if I can walk the talk I preach to you all every 7th edition!
My 2025 Aruba photo album holds 513 photos of beaches, trees, birds, coral. And people. Aruba delivered on the stunning sunsets it is famous for. The cloud formations were bewitching!
Conversations (captured above)
To step away from my keyboard and get off my screens: Remember how to read a paper book
Got to page 116 on the paper copy of The Atlas Six
What worked? Permission to do it imperfectly - sunscreen marked the pages, or sea salt air warped the cover, tracing its journey on the beach.
Get better at snorkelling: Move from scared towards comfortable, maybe even confident.
Five “dives”, each progressively better than the last. Aruba’s shallow waters and coral reefs supported a wonderful assortment of colourful fish. I could have stayed in - suspended, observing - for hours. I did a quick sketch each time, trying to capture the colours and shapes of what I’d seen.
First - I am grateful for the support of a young mother who showed her faith in me at my first dive, off a catamaran in a rainstorm off Malmok beach. Straight into shallow, warm, and full of colourful parrotfish.
Second - We got to see a sea turtle nest off Boca Catalina. This time I figured it was easier to bum my way backwards out of the water using the catamaran ladder, rather than hoist my body weight out of the water on the ropes (still carrying those bruises!)
Third - the SS Antilla, which was intentionally scuttled off the shore of Aruba in WWII. This was deeper (60+’). Amazing shoals of different fish, swam the length of the ship! Flashes of silver and blues flitted one way then reversed on a silent signal.
Fourth - we walked straight off the beach into a mangrove inlet at the Mangel Halto Beach. There were fewer fish, but because it was shallow I practiced not panicking.
Fifth - Baby Beach, I got a lot more practice. The training wheels (life jacket) came off. In the shallow waters, I followed the sleek silver form of a 1.5’/45cm baby barracuda! Then - with the support of my friends - I ventured into the slightly deeper reef off the beach and saw a most unusual yellow triangular fish.
A metaphor for learning new skills: The support and patience of those around me was pivotal to me gathering my courage and confidence. Their age did not matter. Some, like that young mother, were half my age. But they offered mentorship, and I knew they had their guiding eyes watching me. They ‘had my back’.
Three threads, woven into one fabric: protect your time, practice rest, and keep learning with the help of others. That is how we keep living a vibrant life to 60 and beyond, actively participating in life around us.
Your turn “}…{`
What pearls of wisdom would you give your 60-year-old future self?
Will you practice time-boxing?
I’m enjoying writing from conversation. It is my human antidote to a relationship with an AI chatbot. Who would you like to have a conversation with?
Use this link to book some time together. I love conversations:
https://bookme.name/tiltthefuture
Hit the previous arrow at the bottom left-hand corner and check out some of the other conversations.
Understanding proactive rest & recovery as an essential 21st-century skillset
REST RECAP 5/6
Rest Learning 22: Active recovery means planning your breaks ahead
Rest Learning 23: Spending time in Nature is one of the best recovery techniques
Rest Learning 24: Gratitude helps reset our perspective and recover
Rest Learning 25: Disconnect from your screen
Rest Learning 26: Each person’s RESET is different
Let’s take a break … and talk rest, recovery, and reset.
In an era of Information Abundance, it can be hard to find the moment to pause and reflect. Yet that’s where creativity & learning comes from …
Burnout creeps gradually.
Rest learning 22: Active recovery means planning your breaks ahead
After living out of a suitcase for seven months, I desperately needed a healthy amount of downtime. But I did not want to break my weekly rhythm of publishing. Inspired by TS and her Eras tour, I did that by going back into my own vault. I published various climate-related blog posts from prior years.
Rest learning 23: Recharge your personal energy in Nature
Nature - whether it is good weather or bad provides great metaphors for celebration and recovery.
In a very special treat, the Northern Lights showed up to give me a real boost!
Rest learning 24: Gratitude resets our perspective
Gratitude forces us to pause long enough to raise our head and “notice”. We look for the good around us. This simple acts as a breaker on our introspective spiral. This act of mindfulness works as effectively as slowing down to take that deep breath in box breathing.
When I give thanks, I also allow someone else (or nature) into my personal space. I acknowledge, however briefly, that I am part of something bigger. It helps settle my overwhelm. And that offers me great comfort and peace. And rest.
It resets my perspective.
Gratitude is tightly woven into many recovery and religious practices. Consider it an ancient wisdom, an heirloom skill.
Rest message 25: “You are encouraged to disconnect.”
Socially distancing ourselves from our phones is the biggest gift we can give ourselves. And those around us.
Connectivity in the Galapagos Islands
Connectivity to WiFi and cell phone service in the Galapagos Islands is limited due to the remote location and conservation efforts. While some places offer WiFi it can be slow and unreliable.
Cell phone signal coverage can be patchy, especially in secluded areas. Visitors are encouraged to disconnect from their devices and immerse themselves in the natural wonders of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, appreciating its delicate balance and pristine environment. Embrace the opportunity to truly experience the unique beauty and tranquility of the Galapagos Islands.
Disconnecting from our screens and connecting with each other turned out to be some of the best advice as our little family of five headed out to spend a special family vacation together in a special spot on Earth ... the Galapagos.
This “Rest” message was originally inspired by Jon Haidt’s advocacy to separate a younger generation from their devices in his book Anxious Generation.
Rest message 26: Figure out your perfect Reset Zone.
One sister finds peace in listening to the early morning birdsong. Another finds her quiet peace in listening to the waves crash on a beach. My favourite reset is watching the dawn break on a beach.
Each person is different.
Identify that one activity that resets and restores you. Reading a book. Listening to classical music. Hiking. Gaming. Ice skating. Cooking something simple or losing ourselves in creating something sophisticated. It can be one of the biggest gifts we give ourselves.
Restack this post on Notes, LinkedIn or your favourite SM
Your turn “}…{`
Which has been your favourite rest hack? Why? Add some of your own that work well.
Welcome!
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Stay healthy. From there, all else becomes possible.
This edition is on set&forget auto-publish while I am away on a rest break. I’ll see you again next week …
All photos copyright to Karena de Souza.
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"Get better at snorkeling." What a fabulously fun goal that is.