Whew! Good News About Being 60!
My mom didn’t make it to 60. She gave it up to lymphoma at age 57. Dad had a heart attack two years later at 59 and made it to 80, enduring 21 years of extended chronic illness. My grandparents all checked out in their 60s and 70s.
I remember a Parade magazine article a couple of decades ago that claimed that averaging the ages of my parents and grandparents at their deaths would be a good predictor of my longevity. Seemed reasonable at the time.
Based on Parade’s highly scientific naivete, I’ve been dead for about 9 years.
Yeah, times have changed a bit.
But, to think that 60 could be something like a “launching pad” or a “new beginning” is still a stretch for many. As a populous, I sense we’re still encumbered with a 20th-century mindset that says 60 is a time to be thinking “landing” not “take-off” – or “off-ramp” not “on-ramp.”
I’m anything but prescient, or highly imaginative (I’m working on it!!). But at 60, I made the totally illogical decision to leave corporate cubicle nation and start over. Sort of a dimly lit off-ramp to “Oh, s***, what have I done?”
Would I do it again? Yeah!
Would I do it differently? Double Triple yeah!
I’d do it with better preparation and a clearer definition of what I REALLY wanted to do as opposed to just getting the hell out of the confines and control of corporate life which was never right for me although I succumbed to 30+ years of it because it was what we were taught we should do. Plus I married a woman and had kids that liked to sleep inside and eat warm food!
Well, that pivot-at-60 turned out pretty good, although it has been an 18-year slog. I stumbled, bumbled, and toe-stubbed my way to discovering, in my 70s, what I should have been doing decades ago. I’m now excited to get up every morning and continue stumbling, bumbling, and toe-stubbing but with a purpose and occasional positive impact.
Science says I’m a bit slow.
Turns out that my purpose discovery in my mid-70s says I was a bit slow at the switch. Scientists at U. of California, San Diego interviewed 1,042 people age 21 to 100 to determine the age at which purpose and meaning peak for we sapiens, on average.
Turns out (drum roll) – it’s age 60!
According to the study, published in Clinical Psychiatry and viewable at this link, “people tend to feel like their lives have meaning at around age 60.”
The study’s first author, Awais Aftab, a fellow at UC, San Diego states this about the study:
“Existing research points to a vital role played by factors such as a coherent sense of one’s identity, authentic relationships with friends and family members, engagement in long-term goals which provide a sense of accomplishment and contribute to the society, and acting with genuine altruism for the betterment of the world.”
There you have it – a scientifically confirmed formula for meaning.
But – there’s always a but—
It appears that we crescendo through our 40s and 50s into this feeling of purpose and meaning, hit a peak, and then the pursuit decreases for a while. After 60, people begin to search for meaning in life all over again.
That’s when retirement, bereavement, and health issues appear, the meaning at 60 may fade and a new search for a different type of meaning may start for some, hinting that the search for meaning in life changes along with you.
Three things, however, remain constant for staying physically and mentally fit through the lifespan: cultural engagement, hobbies, and exercise.
The study is a good reminder that “finding meaning in life has high payoff for physical and mental health.”
Sounds a bit like the drumbeat from this drummer for the last three years.
No, 60 is not the new 40. It’s the new 60. With the prospect of 30-40 years of runway left, hitting 60 isn’t a good time to be thinking landing.
Time for a new takeoff.
Thanks Gary. Good article. I’m at 64 and working half time for The Joint Commission doing hospital accreditation surveys, walk 2.5 miles daily, getting back on the tennis court, enjoying like with my wife and generously giving back to family and community.
Thanks for commenting Rod. It’s encouraging to see all this come together for you following your transition from Christus. Sounds like a great balance of “labor, leisure, and learning.” Best wishes.
Gary, well said a always!
Thanks Walt. I appreciate having you as a reader. Let me know if there are any topics that you would like me to feature.
Nice article, Gary. Since we last spoke, I have accepted an advisory role with my local nursing home ombudsman program, moved to the lake, and taken up gardening. Life is full, even in these times. Wishing you happy holidays!
Thank you, Laura. Good to hear from you again. Lakeside gardening – now that’s an appealing combination. Thanks for your comment. Best wishes – stay safe.
Outstanding message, Gary, and one both my wife and I believe in. Age Wave talked about “refire” instead of retire. Key seems to be health – both physical and mental.
Good to hear from you, Rick. We should reconnect sometime soon to catch up. I recall you were considering getting involved with DreamReacher, Inc. You are right about AgeWave. Ken Dychtwald has done some amazing work toward helping “redefine” retirement.
Your article certainly validates the new mindset of reaching 60. I have now been retired over 18 months and have finally given myself permission to do the things I want! The pandemic Covid-19 has assisted me to my goal quicker due to isolation etc. I would enjoy an article on how to change your self talk that would enable you to have permission of doing the goals you want without going through a Pandemic!
Fly Safe! Paul
No flying for this cowboy, Paul. Not for a while, at least – although I hear an airliner may be about as safe a place as you can be these days. Hope all is well with you. We should reconnect – I’d love to know what you are up to. The intense “quarantine” works for me, being the hermit I am – has helped a lot as I climb up a couple of new learning curves. Be safe also. Talk soon.
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