Throughout my life I've known passions - as an athlete, getting caught up in a particular game; as mate, getting caught up in an 'us'; as a worker, getting caught up in a job or specialty. As i look back and ponder on those things, i remember a beautiful feeling. I remember how being 'caught up' sorted out priorities and the world was crystal clear. That was a wonderful feeling.
As a 60-year old guy, getting into that 'caught up' zone is getting harder and less frequent. I'm wondering if that's a necessary part of the being-human thing. Is there a pill for that?

You seem to be describing what’s also referred as “being in the zone” or “flow”. In simple terms – it is based on a foundation of hard work (repeatedly practicing your jump shot; surviving hard times and dealing with the basics of everyday married life; training months or years on your specialty). Practice and hard work makes perfect so that when you are on the court your mind runs on instincts, uses your developed skills, and everything around you runs in slow motion giving you options for your next move – you are focused and in that zone. Working on the basics and practice gets you there but how do you get it back when it flees? I think one needs to “re-vision”.

First you need to know where you are. The more self-awareness, the more you know what’s affecting you. You turned 60. Are you in a season of life where you are assessing your accomplishments? Are you harsh or reasonable in your self-judgment?

Where do you want to go next? Again, the answer comes easier the better you know yourself. What do you want to work on? Is it financial security, marriage, family, a competitive activity that a healthy 60 year old can excel in, a sense of purpose from dedication to a mission outside yourself? A clear vision allows you to learn what you need to do and practice. You will then feel the “flow” again.

Sorry, there’s no pill for this. But if you are into reading check out:
Robert Fritz – The Path of Least Resistance
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (I’m not making this up) – Finding Flow

Dr. Mario