Review/Giveaway: The Second-Half Adventure

A WINNING READINGS GIVEAWAY!

Title: The Second-Half Adventure: Don't Just Retire - Use Your Time, Skills & Resources to Change the World
Author: Kay Marshall Strom
Genre: Christian nonfiction living/personal growth
How to enter: Leave a comment on THIS post right here! If you're a subscriber or a follower, leave a second comment for a second entry.
Entry deadline: February 25, 2010
Restrictions: Open internationally!

That's right, enter right here for this giveaway. This is my review copy, so it has been gently read.

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I may not be a baby boomer, but I've worked long and hard enough that I am looking forward to retirement! Ahhh - the days of sleeping in, catching up on my reading, and freedom to travel the world! Throw in a few golf lessons on a Hawaiian course, some of those Seniors trips that the YMCA puts together, and it sounds heavenly!

But there have been those off times, too. I had a six-month period of unemployment a few years back, and somehow I managed to cram every moment of it with activities of one sort or another - stressing myself in order to keep up with things. There's just this inherent need of mine to be needed - to make a difference.

That's where this book comes in.

The Second-Half Adventure, written by Kay Marshall Strom, is a 208-page paperback produced by Moody Publishers. List price is $14.99.

Here's how the publisher describes the book:

A social worker from New England...a Texas airline pilot...a homemaker from
California...a lawyer who has lived everywhere...a quilter in Oregon. What do
they have in common? All are on the adventure of their lives. Like many others
among the 77 million baby boomers, these men and women don't want to retire from
contributing when they retire from their careers. So they are using their time,
skills, and resources to make a difference. Written in cooperation with
Finishers Project, an umbrella organization that encompasses more than 100
mission organizations, this book will help baby boomers discover a second-half
adventure that fits them and counts for eternity.

And I just noticed the author lives a hop, skip, and jump away from me here in Oregon. Okay, so it's a good 1.5 hour away, but when we live in a town you'll miss if you blink, and our county seat town doesn't even have a Costco yet (it's coming, though...), Eugene is like a huge metropolitan area. Back to Kay Marshall Strom - she's authored 34 published books and also speaks at seminars, retreats, and special events throughout the world. Find out more at www.kaystrom.com.

This book is a great resource for those who may be approaching retirement age but don't want to retire from life just yet! As life expectancy increases, more and more people are finding themselves with unfilled time on their hands. And the author offers the challenge - and inspiration - to make the second half of our lives the most meaningful. Why not? We've acquired skills, honed talents, are more financially secure, and have tons to offer.

Not only does the book bring up the challenge and highlight some of the things boomers have to offer, it provides lots of examples and practical advice. It addresses common barriers such as finances, knowing God's will, and spouse issues. And it offers areas and ways in which we can make a difference and grow God's kingdom.

The author includes one of my favorite quotes: "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." (Quote attributed to Jim Elliot, who lost his life in Equador - some of his story is found in End of the Spear, a movie I highly recommend.) And no matter our age, this is certainly a truth we can live by.

There's a great list of website resources in the back of the book. Here's the most important one: finishers.org. If you want to make a difference in the lives of others, but are not sure where to start - where your skills and your passion will be put to best use - start here. The Finishers Project matches adults up with mission opportunities - short- or long-term.

Thanks to the author and Pump Up Your Book Promotion for the review copy of this inspiring, interesting, and useful book.