THE CYCLE OF LIFE

William R. Idol

The point of the entire journey

is to return to the place where you
started
and recognize it for the first time.
T.S. Elliott

PREWORK © 2002 by William R. Idol

THE BEST IS YET TO BE!
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 THIRD AGE: POINT AND CYCLE
As young children we experience life in the moment; all that exists or matters
is what is happening now. We associate this “inability to delay gratification”
with immaturity and judge it negatively. IN CHILDHOOD WE SEE LIFE AS THE
SINGLE POINT OF NOW:

During First Age we learn that time exists and actions have consequences
beyond the present moment. We master this age when we’ve internalized
existence as a progression of moments related through cause and effect. AS
FIRST AGE ENDS, WE SEE LIFE AS A LINE:

During Second Age we move forward along our time line striving for
achievements and the milestones they create. We point to these with pride of
accomplishment and status. However, as we live out this age, these
achievements no longer seem so new and satisfying. We feel we’re repeating
ourselves, and the activities that used to excite our spirits lose their meaning.
Our lives begin to feel repetitive and cyclical. We’re ready to graduate from
this age when we learn that progress is really a repetition of cycles just as
years are a repetition of seasons. SECOND AGE CLOSES WHEN WE FEEL LIFE
IS JUST AN ENDLESS, REPEATING SPIRAL:

During Third Age we release ourselves from the tyranny of linearity, from the
deeply internalized pressure that life and personal worth are about
“amounting to something” and “getting somewhere.” We understand that the
cycles are not different, that this one is not an advance over those previous.
We come to know that the essence of life is being present in this moment – in
the Now – and living it to its fullest and deepest. IN THIRD AGE WE REPLACE
THE LINEAR WITH THE UNIVERSAL. WE CAN BOTH SEE THE WHOLE CYCLE
OF LIFE AND LIVE FULLY THE POINT THAT IS EACH MOMENT…

PREWORK THE BEST IS YET TO BE!

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 THE SEASONS OF THE CYCLE
© 2002 by William R. Idol

IN SUMMER we
produce. Now we
see the fruits of our
labor. In Second
Age much of our
identity and self-
esteem is based
here. This is the
season of In Autumn we feel
IN SPRING we PERFORMING, and the poignancy of
burst forth into cultures honor and loss. The days grow
the light again. reward it highly… shorter and it
We are pulsing
seems only
with the romance
grayness lies
of new life and
ahead. In Third Age
possibilities. This
we can wonder if
is the season of
we have a future at
REFORMiNG, and
all. This is the
in First Age we
season of
naively believe it
IN WINTER we wait UNFORMING, and it
is the be-all and
in the darkness for can be deeply
end-all of life…
the light to return. disturbing…
It’s during this time
seeds of new growth
stir into the
beginnings of life.
This is the season of
TRANSFORMING,
and it cannot be
hurried or avoided…

And the seasons they go round and

round…
Joni Mitchell, “The Circle Game”

PREWORK THE BEST IS YET TO BE!

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