I really started thinking about this around 3 years ago when I was 76. It's also when I became more focused on my long term health which was good at the time but better now. Anyway, my purpose is focused on my 3 grandkids. I want to be part of their life with a healthy lifespan and relationship with them as long as possible. First goal completed in June, seeing oldest graduate from high school. Next to see twins graduate from high school. And then all 3 thru college. By then I will be 86. Sometime I need to add another purpose as I believe I can live into my 90s.
Let me introduce my 3 purposeful colleagues. Pat, Greg and Jaspal are associate editors of a book about coaching leaders. We’ve spent 4+ years with 30 other authors researching, compiling and preparing the book for publication. Three of us are over the age of 80, and the fourth is past 70. We’re also members of a board that manages the book and will launch programs related to it. I’ve followed Arthur Brooks and attended his Harvard seminar. His wisdom comes from an expansive view of human capacity. For some of us it’s inbred. Many of my relatives, and those of my colleagues were productive long after retirement. There’s always a next interest or opportunity for us.
This really struck me. Right now I'm in a mid-career stage, with kids at home and a husband who has a fulfilling career as well. I have many goals oriented towards achievement, be it career, family, etc, but after reading this I thought, "do I really have a grasp on the purpose of my life, and how I can make it clearer to follow and understand? And do I understand how my purpose evolves? Do I have more than one purpose to think about?"
Thank you for the book recommendations - is a great place to start with my new questions.
I really started thinking about this around 3 years ago when I was 76. It's also when I became more focused on my long term health which was good at the time but better now. Anyway, my purpose is focused on my 3 grandkids. I want to be part of their life with a healthy lifespan and relationship with them as long as possible. First goal completed in June, seeing oldest graduate from high school. Next to see twins graduate from high school. And then all 3 thru college. By then I will be 86. Sometime I need to add another purpose as I believe I can live into my 90s.
Let me introduce my 3 purposeful colleagues. Pat, Greg and Jaspal are associate editors of a book about coaching leaders. We’ve spent 4+ years with 30 other authors researching, compiling and preparing the book for publication. Three of us are over the age of 80, and the fourth is past 70. We’re also members of a board that manages the book and will launch programs related to it. I’ve followed Arthur Brooks and attended his Harvard seminar. His wisdom comes from an expansive view of human capacity. For some of us it’s inbred. Many of my relatives, and those of my colleagues were productive long after retirement. There’s always a next interest or opportunity for us.
Thanks, Loretta
This really struck me. Right now I'm in a mid-career stage, with kids at home and a husband who has a fulfilling career as well. I have many goals oriented towards achievement, be it career, family, etc, but after reading this I thought, "do I really have a grasp on the purpose of my life, and how I can make it clearer to follow and understand? And do I understand how my purpose evolves? Do I have more than one purpose to think about?"
Thank you for the book recommendations - is a great place to start with my new questions.
Thank you. And thank you for sharing that.
Yes!
Great stuff Howard. Thanks