SMITCHing

I'm 55, and my wife and I have officially become empty-nesters. Our youngest daughter graduated from college, got her first "real" job, and a car. She's staying in the city where she's lived for the last few years, close to her alma mater, her friends, and about 700 miles away from us. Our other daughter has been married for more than a year now. The two sister live close to one another. They're good friends. So,...what now? A few things come to mind: the long slog to a lesser retirement than we'd envisioned ten years ago; taking care of aging parents who are approaching their dotage; and the occasional brightness of a visit with kids and grandkids. Or,... The second half. It's where a lot of games are won. I'm a football fan and so the second half is an important concept for me. The first half is where you make a lot of mistakes. Sure, you put some points on the board, and maybe you even go into halftime with a lead, but it's in the...

I recently told my daughter that "no" is a gift. If you doubt that, think about a world full of only astronauts, firemen, cowboys, and princesses, with no one to sell cars, or wash dishes, or collect refuse, and worst of all, no Dirty Jobs show. But it's hard for us to embrace the liberation "no" offers. In the words of U2's Vertig o, "Just give me what I want and nobody gets hurt." That pretty much sums up the spirit of our times, where altruism gives way to hedonism. But while shutting one door, "no" opens an myriad of others. Think about that the next time you hear this powerful little word—and smile at the possibilities.