Aging with Passion & Significance
I read an interesting research finding on aging recently: the best way to have a great life, as well as to reduce the risk of the deterioration and typical markers of aging, is to have a Purpose … something bigger than our individual self to be involved in. Your Purpose draws the best of you to the surface to be lived and expressed.
What I have found remarkable in the past several years of my reading is the number of people over the age of 75 who are making significant contributions to the conversations of our times. These people have inspired me tremendously!
- Joanna Macy, scholar of Buddhism, general systems theory, and deep ecology. A respected voice in the movements for peace, justice, and ecology, she interweaves her scholarship with five decades of activism.
- Barbara Marx Hubbard, noted futurist, evolutionary thought leader, author of seven books, social innovator and public speaker; president of The Foundation for Conscious Evolution
- Jean Houston, Ph.D., scholar, philosopher and researcher in Human Capacities; one of the foremost visionary thinkers and doers of our time. She is noted for her ability to combine a deep knowledge of history, culture, new science, spirituality and human development into her teaching.
- Lester R. Brown, ” … one of the pioneers and heroes of global environmentalism”; president of Earth Policy Institute in Washington, DC; has been described by the Washington Post as “one of the world’s most influential thinkers”; his principal research areas include food, population, water, climate change, and renewable energy.
- Noam Chomsky, Professor Emeritus at MIT; linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, logician, political commentator and activist; voted the “world’s top public intellectual” in a 2005 poll.
- Joe Newman, a 101-year old running for Congress in Sarasota, FL in the 2014 midterms! “At what age does a person become too old to think and reason? At what age does a person no longer have a concern for society? At what age does a person no longer have a responsibility to act when acting may help?
If you thought you might be getting too old to make a difference, think again!! The average age of this group is 85.3 years old! In fact everyone in this group is over 80 except for one. And they still are actively making tremendous contributions!
So… don’t give up on yourself! I hope to be actively involved in Life and making whatever contribution I can for at least another 20 years!! Let’s do it together!