"Fifty percent of all baby boomers
(those born between 1945 and 1972)
will live healthy lives beyond one hundred." (years)
- Leonard Sweet from his book "The Well Played Life."
(those born between 1945 and 1972)
will live healthy lives beyond one hundred." (years)
- Leonard Sweet from his book "The Well Played Life."
What? You mean that today our life spans have changed to the point that from retirement on, age 60 or 65 we could be blowing out birthday candles every year for 40 plus more years? That's a lot of candles! Let's see, just during my 70's alone I'll be facing 710 burning candles! Mercy! I'm out of breath just thinking about it!
I personally fall into that baby boomer age range with of course a bulge of other Canadians born during those years, so unless health or accident takes us out, I (we) will be dealing with the question of what to do for another three or four centuries of life! That's then over one third of our whole life span that's coming up after retirement!
Here's an interesting tidbit. The first century Hebrews lifespan was from twenty-six to fourtyish! So when Jesus put down his tools and walked out of his carpenter shop to begin his ministry he was 29-30 years old. This is when he made his mark on on the world. A greater "mark"than anyone ever has made in all of history. In other words, when he was at the equivalent of our retirement age, he did his best work, and changed the world.
I grew up in a farming community. There retirement did not change much for the farmer. The chores, the seeding and harvests continued. Children grew up and some moved on but usually someone stayed and slowly took over the farm. He married and a new house was built somewhere on the homestead. the parents remained, helping until age and/or health issues interfered and true retirement began.
So, I have never bought into the idea that I would stop everything at this magic age of retirement.
Studies have shown that creativity dosent plateau until the age of eighty-three, when it begins to level off and then slope downward. Also, other surveys show that "happiness" peaks at eighty-five! So there you go, we are getting happier and more creative the older we get! Nice. And I thought I was happy now! I'm looking forward to that!
I personally fall into that baby boomer age range with of course a bulge of other Canadians born during those years, so unless health or accident takes us out, I (we) will be dealing with the question of what to do for another three or four centuries of life! That's then over one third of our whole life span that's coming up after retirement!
Here's an interesting tidbit. The first century Hebrews lifespan was from twenty-six to fourtyish! So when Jesus put down his tools and walked out of his carpenter shop to begin his ministry he was 29-30 years old. This is when he made his mark on on the world. A greater "mark"than anyone ever has made in all of history. In other words, when he was at the equivalent of our retirement age, he did his best work, and changed the world.
I grew up in a farming community. There retirement did not change much for the farmer. The chores, the seeding and harvests continued. Children grew up and some moved on but usually someone stayed and slowly took over the farm. He married and a new house was built somewhere on the homestead. the parents remained, helping until age and/or health issues interfered and true retirement began.
So, I have never bought into the idea that I would stop everything at this magic age of retirement.
Studies have shown that creativity dosent plateau until the age of eighty-three, when it begins to level off and then slope downward. Also, other surveys show that "happiness" peaks at eighty-five! So there you go, we are getting happier and more creative the older we get! Nice. And I thought I was happy now! I'm looking forward to that!
"Grow old along with me!
The best is yet to be,The last of life,
for which the first was made."
ROBERT BROWNING,
The best is yet to be,The last of life,
for which the first was made."
ROBERT BROWNING,
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