So true. I know people who are younger than me but appear older just because of how they seem to stagnate. Then I know people who are well into their 70s and they've just really managed to keep up with everything and stay young.
Thank you I’ll take compliment. In my mind, I’m a young adult, but in reality I’m old. But it does give you a lot of freedom, to say whatever you want to.
I’ll give you that and it’s not for sissies either.
Very impactful, Michael. I recognise parts of what you said in how my grandparents were in their final years. When they stopped working, stopped moving, stopped learning, the decline was obvious. My parents are very active and like to keep their brains healthy too. They probably haven't considered the concept of becoming intellectually dead, but they are definitely trying to ward off dementia.
It's easy to get swept along in the stresses of life. Every now and again, I'll hear or read something that jolts me and reminds me to enjoy every moment of life. This story has done that. Thank you.
I love the idea of being "intellectually alive." It's so easy to get caught up in routines and forget to challenge ourselves mentally. Your dad's story about his friends who seemed to "retire from life" is a powerful reminder of the importance of continuous learning and growth. I'm going to make a conscious effort to keep my mind engaged and active!
What if you’re not a creator?I mean I don’t know how to be creative. I get involved by maybe adding onto what others have done or started. I hope that’s good too.
I had an interview with a 78 year old the other day and the guy had more energy and curiosity for the world than most people half is age. So much fun to be around and can only imagine your dad has a similiar vibe.
“The saddest part about getting older for me is seeing how intellectually dead some of my friends have chosen to become.” Michael I sold your dad’s line from an article of yours in Medium where you first wrote it and made it a motto of mine because it deeply resonates with my thinking about old age. I want to remain intellectually alive till the end days. Did you know Barbara Cartland was writing a novel about month in her 90s even when she had gone almost blind. She would dictate it to her assistant.
But from todays’s article, I am going to steal one of your lines. My business ambition are dying too which we’re killing my artistic ambitions. For years I was trying to build a business (tried many but failed in them all) because I felt it was the last hill to conquer. Well I haven’t been able to conquer this hill and I don’t care. My artistic tendencies are so satisfying that I can continue doing that without getting paid a penny for them.
Beautifully written story. I would love it if you could become a subscriber to Author Circle.
"Life’s about learning a new something, meeting a new someone, and seeing a new somewhere. . . Pick up a book. Pick up the phone. Pick up a new hobby. Never stop learning about the world and the people around you."
Michael, you may have paid $3000 to miss your kid's first birthday to try to get back your $250K, and what you got instead was a priceless human connection with your father that led to a lifetime of making human connections in your future. What I love about you is that you know how blessed you are for having had this experience, and you share it so generously with others.
I very much look forward to your next book, whether it is "my parents are right" or something else entirely. I'll likely devour every word like fine dark chocolate.
This week I am working on formatting a book for my mom's Daughter's of the American Revolution chapter. In reading the stories of dozens of patriots and their descendants, I am in awe of all the ways these elders are intellectually alive. These women, most of them in their 90s, are sharing the stories of their ancestors past as wisdoms for the generations futures. They remind me of writers here on substack, like Abigail Thomas. I wanna be like them when I grow up.
If every word that you have written, since the evaporation of your 250K, had a value of one s(cent), I’d postulate that you have achieved an ROI that far exceeds your loss. In fact, without this experience, your trajectory would have been much different. Sometimes getting broken forces us through the rubble and debris to where the dust finally begins to clear and a new path emerges. Keep up the emergence, all.
Wow thank you so much for this Page. Yeah I have a feeling if I'd continued down the path I was on — which looking back — was more about trying to look cool to others than feel cool within myself something would have broke and it could have been far worse. Thank you for the comment and the motivation to keep at it.
Amen..beautifully said. As I get older one of the things that brings a smile to my face is when my kids now in their 20's and 30's say something like...."perhaps you're not as dumb as I thought you were"....or..."don't tell anyone dad, you were right". Staying alive is an inside job, and inside decision, not a state of health. Good on you Michael.
My next book may very well be something like "my parents were right." Circle of life I suppose but it is funny how our eyes slowly start opening as we get older.
Thanks Michael. From the "what its worth" department... the scientists say that our eyes are the camera and our brain the actual "seeing" device. I think our eyes were always open but our capacity to have more conscious seeing starts to happen as we get older. I won't write a book here 😜...but the materialistic view of the brain being the seeing part misses the much more important role of the heart as the seat of seeing. Ahhh discussions for another time. Thanks for your beautiful writing Michael.
This resonated so strongly for me. It's one reason why I don't plan to retire at all. During the pandemic, so many people's worlds shrank and have not expanded much since. It's scary and something I want to avoid at all costs.
Your pandemic remark hit hard as my father-in-law who was 86 when it hit was super active but he had to stay indoors for almost six months and it really slowed him down.
'Choosing to be intellectually alive has become my only marching order.'
Yeah, I strongly believe in this concept as well. Keeping our minds active is so important to prevent the type of cognitive decline that's common in old age.
Such a beautiful story about your parents. Isn't it wonderful that they always manage to teach us something even after we think we know it all?
This story speaks to me and what I am trying to do with my life. Thank you for sharing it!
So true. I know people who are younger than me but appear older just because of how they seem to stagnate. Then I know people who are well into their 70s and they've just really managed to keep up with everything and stay young.
Thank you I’ll take compliment. In my mind, I’m a young adult, but in reality I’m old. But it does give you a lot of freedom, to say whatever you want to.
I’ll give you that and it’s not for sissies either.
Wow. Just. Wow.
Very impactful, Michael. I recognise parts of what you said in how my grandparents were in their final years. When they stopped working, stopped moving, stopped learning, the decline was obvious. My parents are very active and like to keep their brains healthy too. They probably haven't considered the concept of becoming intellectually dead, but they are definitely trying to ward off dementia.
It's easy to get swept along in the stresses of life. Every now and again, I'll hear or read something that jolts me and reminds me to enjoy every moment of life. This story has done that. Thank you.
I’ve never clicked on something so fast.
I love the idea of being "intellectually alive." It's so easy to get caught up in routines and forget to challenge ourselves mentally. Your dad's story about his friends who seemed to "retire from life" is a powerful reminder of the importance of continuous learning and growth. I'm going to make a conscious effort to keep my mind engaged and active!
Life without creative expression seems to be wasted.
What if you’re not a creator?I mean I don’t know how to be creative. I get involved by maybe adding onto what others have done or started. I hope that’s good too.
what a great thought. Thank you Davor.
Thanks, Michael!;)
Love this - my Dad instilled a love of learning in me (by example) when I was a kid, and it's something I believe has kept us both mentally sharp.
He's 76 and he's still learning and growing every day.
The brain is a muscle, you have to continually use it or risk losing it!!
We have a saying we bounce between us 'you never stop learning!'
I had an interview with a 78 year old the other day and the guy had more energy and curiosity for the world than most people half is age. So much fun to be around and can only imagine your dad has a similiar vibe.
He really does! The older I get the more I’ve realised just how much of an inspiration he’s been for me.
Wonderful essay. Thank you Michael.
And thank you Teyani for taking the time.
“The saddest part about getting older for me is seeing how intellectually dead some of my friends have chosen to become.” Michael I sold your dad’s line from an article of yours in Medium where you first wrote it and made it a motto of mine because it deeply resonates with my thinking about old age. I want to remain intellectually alive till the end days. Did you know Barbara Cartland was writing a novel about month in her 90s even when she had gone almost blind. She would dictate it to her assistant.
But from todays’s article, I am going to steal one of your lines. My business ambition are dying too which we’re killing my artistic ambitions. For years I was trying to build a business (tried many but failed in them all) because I felt it was the last hill to conquer. Well I haven’t been able to conquer this hill and I don’t care. My artistic tendencies are so satisfying that I can continue doing that without getting paid a penny for them.
Beautifully written story. I would love it if you could become a subscriber to Author Circle.
subscribed;). So wonderful to hear you made this a motto and also thank you for turning me onto Cartland as I love stories like that.
Thanks for subscribing to ‘Author Circle.’
This was so timely. Thank you once again for sharing.
And thank you once again BEE for the love.
You're welcome
"Life’s about learning a new something, meeting a new someone, and seeing a new somewhere. . . Pick up a book. Pick up the phone. Pick up a new hobby. Never stop learning about the world and the people around you."
Michael, you may have paid $3000 to miss your kid's first birthday to try to get back your $250K, and what you got instead was a priceless human connection with your father that led to a lifetime of making human connections in your future. What I love about you is that you know how blessed you are for having had this experience, and you share it so generously with others.
I very much look forward to your next book, whether it is "my parents are right" or something else entirely. I'll likely devour every word like fine dark chocolate.
This week I am working on formatting a book for my mom's Daughter's of the American Revolution chapter. In reading the stories of dozens of patriots and their descendants, I am in awe of all the ways these elders are intellectually alive. These women, most of them in their 90s, are sharing the stories of their ancestors past as wisdoms for the generations futures. They remind me of writers here on substack, like Abigail Thomas. I wanna be like them when I grow up.
Wow that's super cool the project you're working on. Do let me know when it's live as I'd like to read that and sure my parents would as well.
If every word that you have written, since the evaporation of your 250K, had a value of one s(cent), I’d postulate that you have achieved an ROI that far exceeds your loss. In fact, without this experience, your trajectory would have been much different. Sometimes getting broken forces us through the rubble and debris to where the dust finally begins to clear and a new path emerges. Keep up the emergence, all.
Wow thank you so much for this Page. Yeah I have a feeling if I'd continued down the path I was on — which looking back — was more about trying to look cool to others than feel cool within myself something would have broke and it could have been far worse. Thank you for the comment and the motivation to keep at it.
Amen..beautifully said. As I get older one of the things that brings a smile to my face is when my kids now in their 20's and 30's say something like...."perhaps you're not as dumb as I thought you were"....or..."don't tell anyone dad, you were right". Staying alive is an inside job, and inside decision, not a state of health. Good on you Michael.
My next book may very well be something like "my parents were right." Circle of life I suppose but it is funny how our eyes slowly start opening as we get older.
Thanks Michael. From the "what its worth" department... the scientists say that our eyes are the camera and our brain the actual "seeing" device. I think our eyes were always open but our capacity to have more conscious seeing starts to happen as we get older. I won't write a book here 😜...but the materialistic view of the brain being the seeing part misses the much more important role of the heart as the seat of seeing. Ahhh discussions for another time. Thanks for your beautiful writing Michael.
Ah I love this as the side thoughts on comments are often the thoughts. Thank you for this Ian.
This resonated so strongly for me. It's one reason why I don't plan to retire at all. During the pandemic, so many people's worlds shrank and have not expanded much since. It's scary and something I want to avoid at all costs.
Your pandemic remark hit hard as my father-in-law who was 86 when it hit was super active but he had to stay indoors for almost six months and it really slowed him down.
Yes, it's affected my parents, who are 90 in a similar way. They hardly go out now.
So happy you followed that scent because now the world gets to read your book. Also, we got to meet :D
Gracias Nova. It's been fun.
'Choosing to be intellectually alive has become my only marching order.'
Yeah, I strongly believe in this concept as well. Keeping our minds active is so important to prevent the type of cognitive decline that's common in old age.
I've done a few interviews with hosts in their late 70s recently and their energy is off the charts. People I want to be.