Where Do I Go from Here with My Life? The “Third Age” and Reinventing Aging
by Fred Horowitz
In 1981, after practicing dentistry for 10 years in Montreal, I chose to leave the profession because of eye surgery. I had invested 20 years in following that path and in the back of my mind, I always knew that dentistry wasn’t a good fit for me. It felt like I had fallen into an abyss; afraid of confronting “nothing” or the “blank slate” (“existential crisis”) that creative people deal with on a regular basis.
It was then that I came face-to-face with what I assert is a “background conversation” (like the hum of an air conditioners that we become accustomed to) that we all have at various times in our lives – “Where Do I Go from Here with My Life?” Coincidentally, in researching alternative careers, I came across the writings of Richard Bolles, author of “What Color Is Your Parachute?” and John Crystal, author of “Where Do I Go from Here with My Life?” Reading and integrating the principles of those books has provided me with greater clarity and fulfillment.
As an executive coach, most of the clients I work with are members of what is called, “The Third Age” – between approximately 45 years and 75 years of age. Within this segment, “baby boomers” find themselves. I’m one of them and can relate to their issues, challenges, possibilities and opportunities!
What this paper will briefly discuss is (1) a paradigm shift in our relationship to aging and retirement and (2) the huge opportunity that is available to us as coaches to impact “Third Agers.”
There’s a current model of aging that most of us live into. It has been referred to as the “declining energy model of aging.”
If you would picture a graph, where the ‘y’ axis represents “energy” (physical, occupational, social, etc,) and the ‘x’ axis represents time, there’s an increase of energy from the First Age (infancy to about 18 years old) that continues through the Second Age (18 to 45), where it reaches it’s peak and then in the Third Age (midlife-45-65) starts to decline, culminating in powerlessness, emptiness, infirmity, depression and fear of death.
Contrast this with the “rising energy model of aging,”, where at 45-65 through the creation of spiritual energy, which is infinite and leads to increasing passion, purpose, fulfillment and joy. The curve in the graph continues to ascend. What’s available here is what’s referred to as the “R” words – renewal, rebirth, regeneration and revitalization!
Third Agers are the fastest growing segment of the populations. They are also the fastest growing segment in business start-ups. Retirement in its usual sense is something they want no part of. They want to continue engaging in life and contributing to others.
The Third Age represents the “Live Longer Jackpot” – an enormous gift and opportunity. In 1900, the average Canadian lived to 47 and now, they live to be 77+.
We as coaches can assist Third Agers in reinventing aging and retirement by offering them a new paradigm, a new pathway and new practices.
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