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Commit to be Fit: How to finish the fourth quarter strong
There’s always time to focus on what matters most.
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Growing up, we spent many Saturdays at my grandparents' farm in Scotch Grove, Iowa. After a fun day at the farm, we would hit the road for our drive home, and my dad would turn on the radio to hopefully catch the end of the Hawkeye football game.
If we were lucky, we could catch the tail-end of the fourth quarter, with only minutes left in the game. If we were losing, I would sigh and say, “Oh man, we’re going to lose!” My dad would optimistically say, “Oh no, Birdy! We can still do it. There’s still plenty of time left in the ball game!”
Oftentimes, he was right. Even though the clock said two minutes, we would be in the van listening to the game for much longer. My dad’s optimism taught me something that has stuck with me far beyond Hawkeye football: when there’s time left on the clock, there’s always a chance to turn things around.
The fourth quarter of the year
As we enter into October, we are beginning the “fourth quarter” of 2025. If you’re like me, you may have started the year with aspirations and goals. Some goals I have achieved, some goals need more attention, and other goals I need to reimagine altogether. Remembering my Dad’s optimism, I’m not going to throw in the towel. Instead, I am going to pause and take stock.
These are the questions I’m asking myself:
- What matters most in the time that remains this year?
- What small wins could help add momentum?
- What dreams are worth a final push?
Begin with the end in mind
My dad, now 74, has set a goal to write a screenplay. One of his mentors tells him that the key to writing a compelling story is to begin with the end in mind. Knowing how you want the story to end helps guide every decision in between.
Your life as a story
Each person’s life is a story. And what better way to clarify how you want it to unfold than by reflecting on its ending? Donald Miller, CEO of StoryBrand, suggests writing your own eulogy. Not as a morbid exercise, but as a way to define the legacy you want to leave or how you wish to be remembered. Miller says he reads his eulogy every morning. He says it reminds himself to say “no” to distractions and “yes” to what serves his deeper purpose.
Embracing what matters most
In their book, “The Fourth Quarter of Your Life: Embracing What Matters Most,” Matthew Kelly and Allen Hunt remind us, “Don’t let what you can’t do interfere with what you can do.”
The fourth quarter isn’t about giving up; it’s about doubling down on what matters most to you. If you find yourself in the “fourth quarter of life,” let clarity be your mission. How do you want to fill your days? It can be as simple as calling a friend and nurturing meaningful relationships, or making amends with a family member. Start a hobby, or find ways to volunteer in your community.
So as we enter this final stretch of 2025, or the “fourth quarter of life,” I invite you to look at your life the way my dad looked at those Hawkeye games. The clock may be ticking, but there’s still plenty of time left in the ball game. Pursue what matters most to you, and you will finish strong.
“For the foolish, old age is winter. For the wise, it is the season of the harvest.”
– Matthew Kelly
Kylie Alger is a certified wellness coach and co-owner of the Well-Woman: Body, Mind & Spirit. Comments: kylie@thewellwoman.org.
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