I spend more time in my head than I’d like to admit. Yes, I may come across like some self-actualized guru, but truth be told, I’m often a man on the verge of a nervous breakthrough.

“A new set of faculties seem to be coming into operation. I seem to be awakening to a larger world of wonderment - to catch little glimpses of the immensity and diversity of creation. More than at any other time in my life, I seem to be aware of the beauties of our spinning planets and the sky above. And now I have the time to enjoy them. I feel that old age sharpens our awareness.” - Polly Francis

One early morning, while at MEA in Baja (a beloved sanctuary), I jogged to Playa Cerritos and went in the ocean. I did this by myself, which, in retrospect, was not a good idea. The ocean—a dear childhood friend—was calling me. I didn’t realize how strongly.

I've always believed that one's purpose in life can often be distilled down to a series of choices we make based on the experiences we've had and the insights we've gained. For the longest stretch of my existence, I’ve lived to serve, to give, to nourish others with unwavering dedication.

"Keep your options open."

In the past, I’ve suggested that our body is a rental car we were issued at birth. While we didn’t get any choice in the color or model, we do have some control over how we drive and maintain the vehicle.

Since starting MEA in 2018, there are two articles that have described what we’re doing better than anything I’ve ever written and both of them appeared in The Atlantic magazine (I’d suggest you get a subscription).

A good friend (and MEA alum) recently sent me this observation:

Global aging and technology innovation are each occurring at an unprecedented rate. The intersection of these two global macro trends creates significant need and opportunity for new products and services to transform and tech-enable the aging experience.

Chip’s August 10th Wisdom Well post "My Wisdom Principles & Practices" caused me to reflect on my own perspective as someone who has spent many, many weeks at MEA Baja. With Chip’s permission, here’s my version (in italics) of “Chip’s Wisdom Principles & Practices 2.0”: