Here’s a great weekend read, courtesy of the New York Times Magazine (“Old Masters at the top of their game“). The subtitle tells the story: “After 80, some people don’t retire. They reign.”
It’s a deceptively simple look at the lessons of aging. An essay by Lewis H. Latham, accented by brief excerpts from a series of interviews with people still active in their professions at an advancing age, including Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (81), Academy Award-winning actor Christopher Plummer (84), filmmaker Frederick Wiseman (84), and painter Carmen Herrera (99).
All this accompanied by some stunning portraits by photographer Erik Madigan Heck, which are a feast in themselves.
We’re all heading in the same direction, so these observations from those still in the game past age 80 offer instructive insights.
Here’s one from Plummer, when asked, “I keep hearing that staying in shape is crucial past a certain age. Anything else?”
Yes. And so is doing the work. It uplifts you. The idea that you’re doing what you love. It’s very important. It’s very sad that most people in the world are not happy with their lot or with their jobs and they can’t wait to retire. And when they retire, it’s like death. .?.?. They sit at home and watch the television. And that is death. I think you’ve got to continue. We never retire. We shouldn’t retire. Not in our profession. There’s no such thing. We want to drop dead onstage. That would be a nice theatrical way to go..
And yes, I did manage to miss posting this morning. I was instead finishing last minute preparations for the annual meeting of the Kaaawa Beach Owners Association, which I currently serve as president. The meeting went well, and tomorrow I’ll be back to blogging on a more typical schedule.
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Retirement is like death.
Per the norm, some people definitely fit this description. Some people definitely do not. I have seen some people who love retirement and more time to pursue creative passions and time with friends and family.
And I have seen people who absolutely love working into their 80s, regardless of the money — this is a good description of my father.
People in the free world should be equal, but they are NOT the same. Big difference.
In addition, there is at least one consequence. In the business world, when people do not retirement, there will be fewer job opportunities. Just remember: If you really care about future generations, you just might need to pass along your job someday and let someone else have it. Some kids really love to work too, believe it or not………. In the business world, this is a serious current problem all over the globe, especially with family businesses. Some older business leaders refuse to pass work to younger generations. And people wonder why younger generations have trouble finding jobs.
(Simply dumping more money into the system does not solve this; just check out the high level of unemployment among young people in Europe.)
The people listed are not your usual gang of seniors. They hit big on the roulette wheel of life being born with extraordinary intelligence, talent, looks or combinations thereof. This is akin to the trust fund set telling the average worker he should pull himself up by his bootstraps.
What was the old saying…if you start at third base, don’t claim superiority for making it to home plate.
I play golf at Hilo Municipal where literally hundreds of golfers 75-90 years old pull carts and play two or three times a week. They may watch television in the evening, but there’s no question in my mind that the exercise is good for both their bodies and their minds.
In tandem with the Lapham article there is another ‘must read’ that just hit the deck: Harvard surgeon and Professor of Surgery, Atul Gawande’s fourth book: Being Mortal. Yet another stunning piece of work from Dr Gawande’s pen.