I woke up Sunday morning, still basking in the hangover of a Saturday night date with Sierra. We had just seen The Odyssey, a great movie made by one of my current favorite directors based on the godfather of all heroes’ quest stories.
Odysseus was trying to get home. He fought the war and he wanted his peace finally. He met several challenges along the way. He defied the odds and he defied the gods. Repeatedly. I’m not saying that I am anything like Odysseus. But I think in my own sense, I’m trying to get home too. At least as a state of mind. I’m trying to find my own peace.
I had a couple pretty heavy thoughts sitting there on the porcelain throne. All of the stuff I’ve been dealing with lately: the 1,000-day journey, the road beyond 1,000 days, where things currently stand with Sierra, my decision to go back to grad school, and finally making the push to sit down and actually write New World Samurai. All of it hit me Sunday morning, and led me to one unshakable truth: 
I am setting myself up for the last quarter of my life.
I don’t want this to sound morbid – the idea of me thinking about the end of my life and the very real possibility that I may not make it another 25 years.. In fact, if I had it my way, I would love to be 412, as I mentioned before here on the blog. But I am being realistic, and I got things I wanna do before I’m done. I’m still processing all of this right now myself. But I put a lot of faith in Sierra. I know I’ve been pretty gaga about other women before only to be let down in – let’s face it – in every single situation.
But ever since I started talking to Sierra, well in earnest I mean, I’ve dedicated myself to moving with intention. I’m not trying to play games. I’m not trying to be too cool, but I’m also not trying to fall on my face professing my undying love for her or anything crazy like that. But the truth is I like her, a lot. I’ve liked her even before we actually started dating. I always known she was a really amazing person and right now, I’m just going further down that rabbit hole.
But it’s occurring to me that I really don’t have a lot of time left on the clock. I don’t plan on dying anytime soon, but I’m in my 50s. The rest of my life is something I really need to think about. I’m trying to set myself up financially, so that I can at least finally be a little bit more comfortable. I think it’s time to finally put a lot of my own ethics, values, beliefs, and leadership qualities to the test with pursuing a degree in administration.
As for this blog, it has been my therapy. It has been the journal that is trying to chronicle my life. I’ve been writing for 1,050 consecutive days on a blog that I began 14 years ago. I ain’t going anywhere.
This isn’t another manifesto. This isn’t a master plan. At least not yet. But this is a declaration. This is a revelation that I came to just yesterday and it hit me like a truck.
I’m not exactly certain what this is going to look like yet. But I’m putting the tools down in front of me—all right, this is what’s going to take me to the finish line.
Rebuilding a life takes grit, consistency, and a lot of ‘Option C’ thinking. Having crossed the 1,000-day milestone, I’m now charting the territory beyond. The mission remains the same: No glitz. Just the work. New to the blog? Start your journey here to see the blueprint and the ‘Tricorder’ perspective behind the rebuild.
Today’s post is inspired by the WordPress Daily Prompt. While I’ve taken the topic in my own direction for the Road beyond 1,000 Days, you can find more responses to today’s prompt HERE
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- The Last Quarter
- The Ending to The Natural Still Sucks
- Rob Reviews: The Odyssey 
- Three Dreams Deep: Navigating Life’s Shifting Horizons
- Keeping the Promise When You Lose It All
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The article “The Last Quarter” first appeared on Rebuilding Rob.
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