Today, June 23, I turn 70 years old. At one point in my life, I thought at this age, I’d have one foot in the grave.
Not so today.
Instead, I see that I have entered the third half of my life.
In the modern world, we see childhood as a time of development. Then we entered adulthood where career and family dominate our lives. When the time for those responsibilities has passed, we retire.
As I have watched many of my elders retire over the course of my lifetime, I have found that they have begun to start new careers or seek for new experiences. For many, this involves service to their community or to a cause.
I saw this trend early in my life. I witnessed my father contribute to many organizations in my hometown after his retirement. In particular, championing the development of the local food bank. He was a vital contributor until his last days, even when cut short by an infection that took his life at the age of 85.
I saw another friend Neil become a mentor to young men, including me. His influence helped us to see ourselves as leaders in our community. His passing a couple of years ago left a hole in our lives.
Many of my peers have chosen to spend their third half of life living close to their grandchildren. When the intergenerational character of a family is nurtured, future generations benefit.
In the video that I have prepared for today, I speak about what I see before me. With gratitude, I look forward to our continued interaction.
Thank you Ed for the thoughtful video. I did what you suggested (see Twitter, I tagged you)
Happy birthday and best wishes!
Happy Birthday, Ed! I love your work. All the very best. Dev