The Quest: Discover a Way to Enjoy the Second Half of Life

by Randy Elrod

We are growing older. When America became a nation, only one in five people lived to age seventy. Now more than four out of five do. The average life expectancy in America is currently around eighty years—and increasing. This expansion begs the question, what are we to do with a second half of life that could last forty or more years? The additional time makes it inevitable that somewhere between age thirty-five and sixty, many of us will find ourselves at the cusp of a massive (and possibly catastrophic) transition.

A decade ago, Randy Elrod created a live experience (a rite of passage) called The Quest for people age 35 and over. Since then, he has guided Quest experiences in New Mexico and Tennessee with participants from all walks of life. While there is nothing like attending The Quest in person, the hope is that this book will become a well-worn guide map for one’s journey into second life.

The path of The Quest is a unique journey, and no two ways are alike. Therefore each story is different, yet every story is the same. The many options can be disorienting. But fortunately, there are universal waypoints (intermediate points) that guide one to find the wisdom needed to make this journey of personal freedom.

During the fifteen years the author researched this book, ten topics repeatedly appeared in the rituals, books, and resources and his conversations with others going through the transition to second life. Psychologist Carl Jung calls such recurrences synchronicity or “meaningful coincidences.”

The waypoints (chapters) in this book explore those recurring themes. Ten ways to discover one’s call to adventure, to survive the trials, accept the rewards, and, yes, enjoy the second half of life.

Praise for The Quest“Quest was a life-changing experience for me, and I reflect on it often. Last summer, I had the chance to take my family back to Angel Fire. On Father's Day morning, my son and I hiked up to the same spot where I wrote my journal entry the day after Quest ended. (I recorded the GPS coordinates.) To sit there with my son seven years later, watching hot air balloons rise from the valley floor, was incredible. When I say Quest changed my life, I’m not kidding. But, be warned—it is not for the faint of heart, as Quest will push you to dive into your past and present areas that you might not do otherwise. I strongly recommend Quest for anyone desiring to live their very best life; it's a true game-changer.” -NEVILLE LETZERICH, VP, and Chief Marketing Officer, Fortune 100 Tech Company

“The Quest is not only a book; it's an experience. Randy has been my mentor and a gracious guide both in person and on the page. He's been willing to travel fearlessly ahead and graciously alongside those willing. The question he and this book begs is, are you ready to go deeper and live your most expansive life? As I hope it is yours, my answer is a definitive yes!” -MELISSA GREENE, Artist, Speaker, Writer, Co-Founder and Leader of IMAGINARIUM

“The Quest journey is one we all have the opportunity to take should we live long enough (and statistics show most of us will). The principles in this book helped give me the courage to see a future that no one else had dreamed for me and intentionally sail toward the reality of my true self. It combines the scientific study of anthropology, sociology, and philosophy with the tools and rich traditions of historically tested rituals.

303 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 15, 2022

About the author

Randy Elrod is an artist, author, and adventurer whose path has led from rural Appalachia to Barcelona's artistic streets. His works span memoir "A Renaissance Redneck in a Mega-Church Pulpit" and self-discovery "The Quest." His life has been marked by creative exploration and physical challenges, including twenty-five marathons and wilderness survival in Alaskan grizzly country. "The Purging Room" is his first work of fiction, written from his current home in Barcelona, where he continues his mission of empowering others to embrace their authentic selves.