At age 60, I am feeling great (today, lol) and am doing well at taking care of myself. I am 60% done, with a whopping 40% to go! I have a giant jar of marbles on my vanity – one for each week until I am 100. Each week I take a marble out. The space reminds me of the time passed, and the marbles left remind me that I will not be here forever – and if I have something to do or say (and I do!) – I better get to it and not waste any time.
When we are young, we have energy and health, but no money and little wisdom.
When we are very old, hopefully we have wisdom and some money.
The era those overlap, when we have money, health, and wisdom, is the best time – when all our options are on the table.
“Youth is a gift of nature, but age is a work of art.” – Garson Kanin
“The more sand that has escaped from the hourglass of life, the clearer we should see through it.” – Jean Paul Richter
“To keep the heart unwrinkled, to be hopeful, kindly, cheerful, reverent – that is the triumph over old age.” – Thomas Bailey Aldrich
This is one of your best. A good, wise, thoughtful friend who is now 90 described the “overlap” as your “power years”. It makes me think of a young man, currently in year three with your SOE. He is about to join us as a partner. I think his power years will come far earlier than mine, and his overlap will be a much bigger portion of his life. I’m glad for that. Thank you for writing Think Daily, and thanks for the SOE.
This! I don’t know if I would’ve learned this lesson if I didn’t have to question how many marbles are left. I hadn’t written my masterpiece yet! It became a top priority that I worked on, when I didn’t have my health. I realized that there was so much left to do.. at least one more masterpiece to to write than I had intended.
After winning the cancer battle, both times, the intensity of the drive to put the work in waned. The wisdom gained through time and experience is my very favorite part of aging!
This post hits the nail on the head – do it now, while you’re healthy!
I have 117 more marbles left.
Hi Larry-I will be 85 next week, and I think I have all the elements you spoke about. I hope to enjoy my next 15 with vigor and enthusiasm. I will have to get me some marbles though!
I love the 60% of life completed and 40% more to live. I am almost at the 60 year mark, June for me, and I reflect on my life on a daily basis and think today of how much wisdom I have accumulated. At this age the most important part of life now is my relationships. Sharing good times with people I care about is the most fulfilling moments I can think to do these days. I also feel that everyone needs to find a purpose in life. Finding a balance between these times is the key to inner peace. Remember, joy is an inner feeling. Happiness is a moment in time. To 40 more years of joy and goals for you Larry:)
Larry, You are sooo young to have all this wisdom! Good for you! This 71 year old really appreciates your wisdom!
Marsha
Have you ever read Thomas Sowell’s essay, Growing Old, in his book Ever Wonder Why (and Other Controversial Essays)?
Sometimes the simplest idea inspires such depth of thinking. I may have to take a page out of your ‘Think Daily’ and start my own marble jar.