Randy Elrod's Blog, page 17

Unlike Jason Aldean, I Grew Up In A Small Town

His new country song “Try That In A Small Town” is, at best, deceptive propaganda and, at worst, a blatant dog whistle (a coded message communicated through words or phrases commonly understood by a particular group of people but not by others). Fact: Aldean grew up in Macon, Georgia, one of the largest cities in […]

My Weekly Wholeness Assessment

Body (My essential is: Sensuality) —Hour-long workout with weights (2 days) —Runs of 5.5 miles (2 Days) —Advanced one-hour spin class (1 day) —Limited alcohol to one cocktail per day (5 days) —Sex (5 days) —Sleep eight hours (7 days) —Mediterranean diet (5 days) Mind (My essential is: Curiosity) —Finished “Once Upon A Tome” by […]

The Quest Essentials Handwritten

Autonomy

For me, autonomy means freedom—to make choices not determined by prior causes or divine intervention. It is one of my four essentials of being (see The Quest) and connected to the spiritual aspect of who I am. As I pursue wholeness and joy in the second half of life, I am making more frequent autonomous […]

Curiosity

Curiosity means endless questioning, like when I was a child, asking about everything, ad infinitum. Who? What? Where? When? How? And perhaps most importantly, Why? It means refusing to take “no” answers as the final word. It prefers questions over answers. A curious mind (the mind is the human aspect directly tied to this essential […]

Father’s Day “Changes”

Seasons change and so did I Oh my children You will too Longings change and so did mine Oh my children Yours will too Beliefs change and so did mine Oh my children Yours will too Fortunes change and so did mine Oh my children Yours will too Families change and so did mine Oh […]

Think Getting Older Sucks? Think Again.

Hollywood, culture, and yes, even the medical industry tells us that getting older sucks and that people over fifty should slow down and act their age. Guess what? We are not listening. Instead, many of us are living out our dreams. A growing number of older people are showing there is much to enjoy in […]

What Was The Last Book You Read?

We were watching Jimmy Kimmel Show as they did a street interview asking people what the last book they had read was. Not one could think of the last time they read a book. Not one. This absence of reading is inconceivable to me. Reading brings me joy, and there is rarely, if ever, a […]

Second Half of Life Questionnaire

I recently found this fascinating questionnaire by Oldster Magazine and promptly filled it out. Most people seem to feel about 20% younger than their actual age. Please take some time to complete it and then post it in a comment below. It will take a bit of time, and it is personal, so if no one does […]

Random Ways To Enjoy Life After Age 40

—Spend your free time the way you like, not the way you think you’re supposed to. —Discover your natural personality and how to make the most of it. —Develop a newfound sense of entitlement to be yourself. —Love knowledge for its own sake, not necessarily as a blueprint to action. Pursue an activity for its […]