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Claiming Your Place at the Fire: Living the Second Half of Your Life on Purpose
To claim one's place at the fire means to live ones life on purpose. When we claim our place at the fire, we enter into the circle of vital elders who have been the source of wisdom in society since time immemorial. We do this by courageously reexamining and rediscovering who we are, where we belong, what we care about, and what our life's purpose is.
—from the introduction
If you're in, or about to enter, "the second half of life, " this practical guide will show you how to claim your rightful place among the "new elders"—men and women who “use the second half of life as an empty canvas, a blank page, a hunk of clay to be crafted on purpose.” Through inspiring stories and thought-provoking exercises, you'll learn to ask, and answer, four key
Who am I? How do I stoke the wisdom gained in the first half of my life to burn more brightly in the second half?
Where do I belong? What makes a place the right place for me in the second half?
What do I care about? Where do I want to use my gifts and talents in the second half?
What is my purpose? How do I leave a legacy that has real meaning for myself and my loved ones?
This book provides a new model for vital aging. It shows you how to age successfully by living on purpose.
—from the introduction
If you're in, or about to enter, "the second half of life, " this practical guide will show you how to claim your rightful place among the "new elders"—men and women who “use the second half of life as an empty canvas, a blank page, a hunk of clay to be crafted on purpose.” Through inspiring stories and thought-provoking exercises, you'll learn to ask, and answer, four key
Who am I? How do I stoke the wisdom gained in the first half of my life to burn more brightly in the second half?
Where do I belong? What makes a place the right place for me in the second half?
What do I care about? Where do I want to use my gifts and talents in the second half?
What is my purpose? How do I leave a legacy that has real meaning for myself and my loved ones?
This book provides a new model for vital aging. It shows you how to age successfully by living on purpose.
- GenresSelf HelpAgingNonfiction
150 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
About the author
Richard J. Leider
46 books46 followersRichard’s ten books, including three best sellers, have sold over one million copies and have been translated into 20 languages. Repacking Your Bags and The Power of Purpose are considered classics in the personal development field. Richard’s “inventures” in writing books have taken him to events with readers in all 50 states, every Canadian province, and 15 countries.
As co-author of Life Reimagined, he is the Chief Curator of content for AARP’s Life Reimagined Institute. Widely viewed as a visionary and thought leader on the “power of purpose”, his work is featured regularly in many media sources including, PBS public television, and NPR public radio. He is featured in the PBS Special – The Power of Purpose.
As a keynote speaker, he is one of a select few advisors and coaches who have been asked to work with over 100,000 leaders from over 100 organizations such as AARP, Ericsson, Mayo Clinic, MetLife, National Football League (NFL), and United Health Group discover the power of purpose.
Richard holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling and is a National Certified Counselor (NCC), a National Certified Career Counselor (NCCC), and a National Certified Master Career Counselor (MCC). As a Senior Fellow at the University of Minnesota’s Center for Spirituality and Healing, he founded The Purpose Project. He is co-chairman and dean of the World Purpose Forum, co-chairman of the Linkage/Global Institute for Leadership Development, and a member of the Council Advisors of the FRED Leadership Forum. He is also a board member of Youth Frontiers, and Life Coach in Residence at The Marsh: A Center for Balance and Fitness.
He is a contributing author to many coaching books, including: Coaching for Leadership, The Art and Practice of Leadership Coaching, Executive Coaching for Results, The Leader of the Future, and The Organization of the Future.
Richard’s work has been recognized with awards from the Bush Foundation, from which he was awarded a Bush Fellowship and the Fielding Institute’s Outstanding Scholar for Creative Longevity and Wisdom award.
For 30 years, Richard has led Inventure Expedition walking safaris in Tanzania, East Africa, where he co-founded and is a board member of the Dorobo Fund for Tanzania. He and his wife, Sally, live on the St. Croix river outside of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
As co-author of Life Reimagined, he is the Chief Curator of content for AARP’s Life Reimagined Institute. Widely viewed as a visionary and thought leader on the “power of purpose”, his work is featured regularly in many media sources including, PBS public television, and NPR public radio. He is featured in the PBS Special – The Power of Purpose.
As a keynote speaker, he is one of a select few advisors and coaches who have been asked to work with over 100,000 leaders from over 100 organizations such as AARP, Ericsson, Mayo Clinic, MetLife, National Football League (NFL), and United Health Group discover the power of purpose.
Richard holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling and is a National Certified Counselor (NCC), a National Certified Career Counselor (NCCC), and a National Certified Master Career Counselor (MCC). As a Senior Fellow at the University of Minnesota’s Center for Spirituality and Healing, he founded The Purpose Project. He is co-chairman and dean of the World Purpose Forum, co-chairman of the Linkage/Global Institute for Leadership Development, and a member of the Council Advisors of the FRED Leadership Forum. He is also a board member of Youth Frontiers, and Life Coach in Residence at The Marsh: A Center for Balance and Fitness.
He is a contributing author to many coaching books, including: Coaching for Leadership, The Art and Practice of Leadership Coaching, Executive Coaching for Results, The Leader of the Future, and The Organization of the Future.
Richard’s work has been recognized with awards from the Bush Foundation, from which he was awarded a Bush Fellowship and the Fielding Institute’s Outstanding Scholar for Creative Longevity and Wisdom award.
For 30 years, Richard has led Inventure Expedition walking safaris in Tanzania, East Africa, where he co-founded and is a board member of the Dorobo Fund for Tanzania. He and his wife, Sally, live on the St. Croix river outside of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 15, 2012
This book allows you to re-frame your perspective on starting the second half of your life. Lots of great questions for self-reflection and discussing with others that will help you understand:
Who Am I?
Where Do I Belong?
What Do I Care About?
What Is My Purpose?
I was reminded that growth and youth are not synonymous and how important it is to live your life on purpose. Not only do they use the fire metaphorically, they suggest that you actually go out and build one, discuss their thought-provoking questions around it and let it lighten your thinking.
A book of hope.
Who Am I?
Where Do I Belong?
What Do I Care About?
What Is My Purpose?
I was reminded that growth and youth are not synonymous and how important it is to live your life on purpose. Not only do they use the fire metaphorically, they suggest that you actually go out and build one, discuss their thought-provoking questions around it and let it lighten your thinking.
A book of hope.
June 30, 2016
Excellent read for anyone approaching a major life change, particularly in later years. One of my favourite phrases from the book: '.. new elders have shifted.. from an age-ing to a sage-ing outlook on life'
August 3, 2009
Meaningful counsel and wisdom concerning ACTIVELY taking steps in later life to make a difference. No need to roll over and die after 60...
[Leider is a St. Croix Valley author:]
[Leider is a St. Croix Valley author:]
March 1, 2020
Claiming Your Place By the Fire is a gift to contemplative individuals of a certain age who are striving to determine how best to plan and live the second half of their lives. The book’s stated intent is to help individuals to “Claim one’s place at the fire by living one’s life on purpose. We do this by courageously reexamining and rediscovering who we are, where we belong, what we care about, and what our life’s purpose is. In the second half, we have a unique opportunity to be the author of our own story. We have a chance to rewrite it, rather than to simply replicate the first half.”
In many tribal cultures, members sit around a fire in the evening. The elders sit in a circle closest to the fire. The younger members sit in a circle behind the elders. An important goal in these gatherings is the transfer of knowledge and wisdom from the elders to those in the upcoming generation.
Richard Leider was privileged to sit in on over twenty of these firesides during trips to Africa. He was once asked, “Who are the elders of your tribe?” He was stumped by this question, drawing a blank, because in our society, the entire concept of “elder” is foreign. Yet, this question is important and begs for an answer. He pondered, “As we move into the second half of life, how do we most fully and authentically claim our place at the fire?”
He states, “For many of us, the second half of life represents the first real chance we’ve had to define ourselves and to live in a manner of our own choosing. The challenge that comes along with this is that it’s up to us to decide what we really want to do with the rest of our life.” The goal is to avoid looking back on our lives with regret and wondering, “What was the point?”
The fire metaphor continues throughout the book. The concept of the “New Elder” is progressively built around what the authors call The Four Flames of Vital Aging. The reader is prompted to seek personal insight and direction by thinking about and answering four Firestarter Questions:
The Flame of Identity: Recalling Our Stories
Principle: Wisdom
Firestarter Question: Who Am I
The Flame of Community: Refinding Our Place
Principle: Intimacy
Firestarter Question: Where Do I Belong?
The Flame of Passion: Renewing Our Calling
Principle: Caring
Firestarter Question: What Do I Care About?
The Flame of Meaning: Reclaiming Our Purpose
Principle: Meaning
Firestarter Question: What Is My Legacy?
Leider wraps up by quoting George Bernard Shaw: “This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of Nature instead of a feverish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.”
I hope the above resonates with you, given your own personal situation. This was my second time reading Claiming Your Place By the Fire. I reread it because my life circumstances have materially changed since I first read it seven years ago. The journey continues; it helps to have some reliable guidance upon which to plan your route and intentionally travel your chosen path.
In many tribal cultures, members sit around a fire in the evening. The elders sit in a circle closest to the fire. The younger members sit in a circle behind the elders. An important goal in these gatherings is the transfer of knowledge and wisdom from the elders to those in the upcoming generation.
Richard Leider was privileged to sit in on over twenty of these firesides during trips to Africa. He was once asked, “Who are the elders of your tribe?” He was stumped by this question, drawing a blank, because in our society, the entire concept of “elder” is foreign. Yet, this question is important and begs for an answer. He pondered, “As we move into the second half of life, how do we most fully and authentically claim our place at the fire?”
He states, “For many of us, the second half of life represents the first real chance we’ve had to define ourselves and to live in a manner of our own choosing. The challenge that comes along with this is that it’s up to us to decide what we really want to do with the rest of our life.” The goal is to avoid looking back on our lives with regret and wondering, “What was the point?”
The fire metaphor continues throughout the book. The concept of the “New Elder” is progressively built around what the authors call The Four Flames of Vital Aging. The reader is prompted to seek personal insight and direction by thinking about and answering four Firestarter Questions:
The Flame of Identity: Recalling Our Stories
Principle: Wisdom
Firestarter Question: Who Am I
The Flame of Community: Refinding Our Place
Principle: Intimacy
Firestarter Question: Where Do I Belong?
The Flame of Passion: Renewing Our Calling
Principle: Caring
Firestarter Question: What Do I Care About?
The Flame of Meaning: Reclaiming Our Purpose
Principle: Meaning
Firestarter Question: What Is My Legacy?
Leider wraps up by quoting George Bernard Shaw: “This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of Nature instead of a feverish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.”
I hope the above resonates with you, given your own personal situation. This was my second time reading Claiming Your Place By the Fire. I reread it because my life circumstances have materially changed since I first read it seven years ago. The journey continues; it helps to have some reliable guidance upon which to plan your route and intentionally travel your chosen path.
January 9, 2024
A great book for older adults particularly but would be a good read for those who are mature and want to plan for their retirement activities. Knowing our identity is important. " My goal, is to die young, at a very old age!"
November 20, 2023
Inspiring and useful to me. It helped me prioritize what projects are important and why. Not sure it would be meaningful or important to people just entering "senior" status.
July 14, 2013
I can't remember too much about this book because I read it a long time ago. I suppose I did not get my place at the fire and I am definitely not living the second half of my life on purpose.
April 1, 2019
I am sure that some readers will connect with this book and benefit from the insights. Maybe men coming from the men's movement of the 1990s? Anyway, it didn't work for me.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews