Time With Sands – On Living Longer

I’ve seen some projections that people could start to live up to 100! This is of course a miraculous possibility, but I can’t imagine what to do with another 30 years, since my husband has passed and I’m already in retirement. How could I possibly plan for all that time?

– Iris R.

My answer is, how could you not plan for all that time? There are so many more important things to be and do after 65! We need to start teaching early on that age is not defined only chronologically, but our life course is also elongating. This is a big difference in mindset from when I grew up. People in midlife today are most likely to live to 95, so 100 isn’t much of a stretch. Two of my mentors are over 100 – one is 106, and one is almost 103. So thinking that life is over at 65 and you won’t have anything else to fulfill your life, to contribute to, to enliven you, doesn’t hold true.

Something has to fill up your time in the next 30-40 years, whether it be new relationships and communities or broadening existing ones. Your life as a duo with your husband is now past-tense archived for all time. Ahead is your NEW living story that is yours to design! Perhaps you will seek to mix things up and not get a full-time job. Maybe you take courses, join in cultural events, start volunteering more…socializing as much as it feeds you. When you are ready to explore, you could learn a new skill, or become an advisor, consultant, or mentor based on prior experience. Take your time. Small steps are far more enriching than taking no steps at all.