Your Life: Look up and out when facing life changes

I have worked at managing the fear when it comes. One of the most helpful pieces of advice came from businessman and pilot Paul Odom II, who took me up in a 1945 Stearman biplane with an open cockpit.

Odom said, “Don't look down. Look up and out.” And it worked. Ignoring the feeling would have been foolish, but understanding it could be managed allowed me to have the experience.

“Look up and out” is a phrase anyone facing a significant life change might heed. Recently I've visited with folks facing one of those significant changes — retirement.

While retirement is not a one size fits all, the happiness of it will be helped by outward thinking. One can't “look down” and plan ahead, but when one looks outward, a positive change or productive action can be found.

Happiness, in order to be maintained, must be shared — requiring a portion of our time be spent with an interest and attention to something outside us.

The key is finding the balance between doing things just for ourselves and reaching out to others. A good example is the Oklahoma Senior Follies, a great way to use your talents, make new friends, and help Mobile Meals of Oklahoma County at the same time.