Yes… I’m “up there”…

Like so many of you, a lot of changes have occurred in my life recently.  Retirement (and the “fixed income” that comes with it).  Changing careers (from employee to freelance sales/business consulting).  Sickness and death among too many friends and family members.  I even attended my 50-year high school class reunion.  Although it’s a very humdrum topic, at my age, it’s hard not to think about my age. 

This recent post on Facebook caught my attention – did you see it?  At first I cringed at the title; but after reading it through, I realized it’s true! 

They call us ”The Elderly”

·         We were born in the 40-50-60’s.

·         We grew up in the 50-60-70's.

·         We studied in the 60-70-80's.

·         We were dating in the 70-80-90's.

·         We got married and discovered the world in the 70-80-90's.

·         We ventured into the 80-90’s.

·         We stabilized in the 2000’s.

·         We got wiser in the 2010’s.

·         And we are going firmly through and beyond 2020’s.

·         Turns out we've lived through EIGHT different decades...

·         TWO different centuries...

·         We have gone from the telephone with an operator for long-distance calls to video calls to anywhere in the world.

·         We have gone from slides to YouTube, from vinyl records to online music, from handwritten letters to email and WhatsApp.

·         From live matches on the radio, to black and white TV, color TV and then to 3D HD TV.

·         We went to the Video store and now we watch Netflix.

·         We got to know the first computers, punch cards, floppy disks and now we have gigabytes and megabytes on our smartphones.

·         We wore shorts throughout our childhood and then long trousers, Oxfords, flares, shell suits & blue jeans.

·         We dodged infantile paralysis, meningitis, polio, tuberculosis, swine flu and now COVID-19.

·         We rode skates, tricycles, bicycles, mopeds, gas cars, diesel trucks and now we drive hybrids or electric.

·         They could describe us as “exennials”; people who were born in that world of the fifties, who had an analog childhood and a digital adulthood.

·         Our generation has literally lived through and witnessed more than any other in every dimension of life.

·         It is our generation that has literally adapted to “CHANGE”.

Unknown Sage 

An “analog childhood and a digital adulthood…”  I love that phrase!

One of my friends and mentors said he admired that I was “still in play”.  That’s a wonderful compliment!  It reminded me of this little ditty from our favorite, Unknown sage: 

It’s not how old you are, but how you are old. 

So yes, I’m “up there” in age during an age when being “up there” has different levels of respect (or disrespect) all depending.  Unfortunately, in Corporate America today ageism is alive and well.  Yes, we are going to place a huge burden on social security and Medicare.  To those younger than us we say, “get over it”.  Re-read the list above about our generation and I think you’ll agree, we’ve earned it. 

Someday you too may be lucky enough to be called “elderly”.  When that day comes, those of us left standing will welcome you new “Oldtimers”.  Ah yes, Oldtimers… Much has been said about Oldtimers.  Richard J. Needham put it this way: 

It’s easier to have the vigor of youth when you’re old than the wisdom of age when you’re young. 

I am certainly trying to maintain said vigor. 

So here’s to being “up there”.  The good news is we’re saving room at the top for you. 

                                                            GAP 

When life gets tough we could get a helmet… or… we could leverage the peace and share the power of a positive perspective.