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25 September 2015

Baby Boomers Please Remember “It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over.”

Written by Randy Hartman| Get Our Boomer Manifesto

The recent death of baseball philosopher Yogi Berra exposed a new generation to his engaging quotes. It’s hard to imagine a baseball star being quoted more often than Winston Churchill! But how do you ignore such statements as, “Baseball is 90% mental, the other half is physical?”

Like many people this week I reviewed a list of his most quoted lines. One of them stuck with me. It’s a kick in the pants reminder for Baby Boomers everywhere: “It ain’t over till it’s over.”

When we enter the third quarter of life we are forced to grapple with new realities.

  • We do not have the energy of our youth.
  • The young people at work outperform us.
  • If you decide to make a career change you discover many businesses are looking to hire a younger person.
  • The disappointments of life have added up and weigh you down.
  • You have developed a chronic hitch in your get along.
  • Bitterness threatens to take a more prominent role in your life.
  • Retirement is looking less inviting because you realize your retirement plan really stinks.

This list only scratches the surface of issues we need to face in the third quarter of life.

How do we handle this load? Too many Baby Boomers give up. They tell themselves life is basically over. Now what? The plan is to withdraw, park in front of a TV, and slide into oblivion while nursing regrets of missed opportunities.

Wait just a minute. Yogi Berra would remind you, “It ain’t over till it’s over!” You are still alive. There are opportunities all around you. You can make a meaningful contribution in your corner of the universe..

Remind yourself of people who became huge successes late in life.

  • Harland Sanders didn’t make it big with his Kentucky Friend chicken until after 65.
  • Ronald Reagan never won an election until he was 55.
  • Laura Ingalls Wilder didn’t publish her first book of Little House fame until she was 65.
  • Nola Hill Ochs, on May 14,2007 became a Guinness World Record holder as the world’s oldest college graduate. At 95 she graduated from Fort Hays State University in Kansas 77 years after starting her college education.
  • And everyone knows of the famous painter Grandma Moses who started at the age of 76.

Listen. Trust me. It ain’t over till it’s over. Even if your life is right now an unimaginable train wreck you do not need to give up. You must NOT crawl into a hole and let the rest of life pass you by. Don’t do it.

Decide you are going to do whatever it takes to make the third quarter of meaningful and fulfilling. How do you get started? Talk to a trusted friend who has been through similiar circumstances but landed on their feet. Read a book on reinventing yourself. Enroll in a class. Find a life coach to help you sort through issues and see the opportunities. Look for a way to volunteer in the area of your expertise.

Here’s a homework question: “What’s the one thing I can do before the day is out to move my life in a positive direction?” Think about it. Make a list of possibilities. Study the list and choose the best idea. Now. Go. Do. That.

It ain’t over till it’s over.

Do you really believe it?

Feel free to leave a comment below or on my Facebook page by clicking HERE.

Randy Hartman

Dr. Randall Hartman, D.Min., M.Div., is an author and speaker. After serving 30 years as a successful minister he became nationally trained to lead churches through transition. Dr. Hartman started his own website to share his writings with others.

12 Comments

  1. Dorcie Tracy Reply to Dorcie to Dorcie Tracy" aria-label=' Reply to Dorcie to Dorcie Tracy'> Reply to Dorcie
    September 25, 2015 at 7:58 am

    What a good read for first thing in the morning. I needed this. Thanks

    • Randy Hartman Reply to Randy to Randy Hartman" aria-label=' Reply to Randy to Randy Hartman'> Reply to Randy
      September 25, 2015 at 8:09 am

      Thanks for reading!

  2. Chuck Reply to Chuck to Chuck" aria-label=' Reply to Chuck to Chuck'> Reply to Chuck
    September 25, 2015 at 8:20 am

    Good work for my morning! Thanks…

  3. Jeanne Reply to Jeanne to Jeanne" aria-label=' Reply to Jeanne to Jeanne'> Reply to Jeanne
    September 25, 2015 at 9:00 am

    Absolutely!

  4. Judy Reply to Judy to Judy" aria-label=' Reply to Judy to Judy'> Reply to Judy
    September 25, 2015 at 9:16 am

    It ain’t over until God calls us home. Doing what I can do to tell others about Him.

  5. Johnny Reply to Johnny to Johnny" aria-label=' Reply to Johnny to Johnny'> Reply to Johnny
    September 25, 2015 at 10:44 am

    Exactly, we’re having the time of our lives.\, even in the 4th quarter!

    • Randy Hartman Reply to Randy to Randy Hartman" aria-label=' Reply to Randy to Randy Hartman'> Reply to Randy
      September 25, 2015 at 10:45 am

      Yes!!

  6. Garry Reply to Garry to Garry" aria-label=' Reply to Garry to Garry'> Reply to Garry
    September 25, 2015 at 2:48 pm

    How timely! Received some not-so-great news about an eye issue yesterday. I go straight to, “This is a catastrophe!” And, “Why should I move on through school? I’m gonna check out soon enough anyway!” Yeah, no grey area here!

    Right as usual Randy. I appreciate the push. Why is it so stinkin’ difficult to stay in the game though?

    • Randy Hartman Reply to Randy to Randy Hartman" aria-label=' Reply to Randy to Randy Hartman'> Reply to Randy
      September 25, 2015 at 8:17 pm

      Hi Garry. It’s a great question. All I know is it’s way easier to sit on the sideline and do nothing instead of keep swinging.It reminds me of a Roberto Duran boxing match years ago where he refused to answer the bell and said, “No mas, no mas.”

      • Garry Reply to Garry to Garry" aria-label=' Reply to Garry to Garry'> Reply to Garry
        September 27, 2015 at 8:45 am

        Keep swinging! I like it. Fighting attitude! Works for me….

  7. Terry Reply to Terry to Terry" aria-label=' Reply to Terry to Terry'> Reply to Terry
    September 25, 2015 at 8:10 pm

    I especially like the reference to “The third quarter of life”- means I got about 50 more years-right?

    • Randy Hartman Reply to Randy to Randy Hartman" aria-label=' Reply to Randy to Randy Hartman'> Reply to Randy
      September 25, 2015 at 8:12 pm

      Assuming my math is good you are right on!

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