But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Acts 20:24
I have reached the stage life where many of my friends are retiring from active work; but they like me are far from retiring from the work of life.
Donna Sapolin the editorial director of Next Avenue, a PBS sponsored website dedicated to delivering good, solid, trustworthy information to help people navigate life over 50. Has developed a terrific list of traits of those of us over 50 who are successfully finishing the work assigned. Let's take a look.
1. Mentoring
They've mastered a lot of life lessons and they want to pass them on. So they look for opportunities to teach and mentor others.
2. Donate
They've pinpointed a few causes they really care about, work at 
developing deep insights about them and donate their time and energy to them in the belief that they can help change things for the better. They don't worry about whether they're impacting a single individual or the world.
3. Grateful
They are grateful for what they have and take steps to share it.
4. Fully-Engaged
They are seekers and doers who are enthusiastic participants in life - they are fully engaged in work, play and relationships.
5. Learners
They have a hunger to keep learning - information, skills, fresh practices - to foster brain health and become better equipped to stay employed and contribute to society in fresh ways.
6. Nourishing Connections
They have an open heart, build communities around them, forge and cherish connections with people of all ages and help others create nourishing bonds.
7. Resolve Old Scores
They try to learn from their mistakes and take action to heal old wounds, smooth out past relationships and resolve regrets.
8. Insightful
They think about life's big questions, focus on being open-eyed and taking action to become more emotionally insightful.
9. Acknowledge Difficulties
They acknowledge difficulty but choose to believe in the possibility of positive outcomes and try to spread the happiness they cultivate.
10. Health Conscious
They respect and take care of themselves. They are conscientious about making healthy food choices, exercising regularly and taking measures to reduce stress. They accept that they have a responsibility to cultivate physical and mental well-being and to protect and honor their bodies. Why? To make the most of their own lives and to ease the prospective future burdens on their loved ones.
The Bottom Line: Finishing Strong
And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. Hebrews 12:1
Those of us over 50 or soon to be are in the midst of an amazing 
transition, where we are expected to live longer than any previous generation. With many years of life ahead we all have a different set of expectations for what we can become during these years as we finish strongly the work assigned.
