Aging with Grace: Staying Relevant No Matter Our Age
A story about the last time I visited my father and how to adapt
How do we age gracefully and remain relevant in a society that sees us as old and warehouses us in assisting living homes when we can no longer care for ourselves? It’s a common question that my father had on his mind the last time we visited before he died.
Dad and I were driving to the golf course in his retirement community. He was in his late 70s and still working as a business consultant and partner in a small publishing company. We talked about his experience and how his wisdom might have helped me overcome a tough time in my consulting business.
He struggled to generate enough income to supplement his meager social security income. When I challenged him to do more, he said, “Clifford, you don’t understand because you’re much younger. It’s tough to stay relevant in business when you’re my age. The truth is, people see me as old. That’s the way it is. It isn’t easy to accept. Prepare yourself as best you can.”
It was almost impossible to relate to what Dad was telling me. As was typical, he shared his wisdom from an advanced perspective. After all, he was always wise and had a Masters Degree from Harvard he received when he was in his early 50s.
