Living Long and Living Well: Rethinking Life in the Age of Longevity
In The 100-Year Life: Living and Working in an Age of Longevity, authors Lynda Gratton and Andrew J. Scott explore an interesting shift that people might not be fully prepared for. Gratton and Scott explain that thanks to advancements in healthcare, technology, and living standards, many of us are likely to live much longer than previous generations. On one hand, this seems very appealing, more time with loved ones, new adventures, and opportunities to serve. However, when I consider the hope of eternity and seeing Jesus face to face, living for 100 years loses its appeal. The book delves into the implications of this longer lifespan on a person’s work, relationships, and personal fulfillment, offering suggestions for rethinking the stages of life. The authors highlight the traditional model of three stages of life, education, work, and retirement. I never have been a person who dreamed of spending winters in Florida and summers elsewhere, but I do hope for a simpler pace to life that has more time for family, and friends, and still bearing fruit, like it says in Psalm 92:12-14,
“The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green.” [1]
The Impact of Longevity on Traditional Life Models
The 100-Year Life is the idea that the traditional three-stage life model (education, work, and retirement), no longer fits. It is noted that Japan has the longest-living citizens in the world, with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s leadership creating a “Council for the Design of a 100-Year Life”. [2] Education in the early years prepared people for decades of work, followed by a relatively brief period of retirement. The authors note that with more of us potentially living into our 90s or beyond, this model becomes unsustainable. As Gratton and Scott suggest, it’s time to radically reimagine life itself.
The book introduces the concept of a multi-stage life, where individuals may transition through several phases of learning, working, and even taking breaks for personal growth or reorientation. Instead of rigid life stages, we may cycle between these different phases multiple times. The book shared scenarios of individuals who may engage in a process of retraining for a new career in their 40s, or even 60s, and could take multiple sabbaticals throughout their lifetime to reset and focus on personal development. I have experienced this first hand, not only in my own career in education but in ministry and district administration. In the denomination in which I serve, a new initiative requires pastors to take sabbaticals, including the submission (with follow-up coaching) of a sabbatical plan and an application for funds to support churches with pulpit supply and other needs during the pastor’s sabbatical. Just last week, during my regular work, I co-facilitated a series of interviews, and three out of the five candidates were older individuals pursuing education as a second career. One candidate, in particular, had returned to school in her 60s to earn a Master’s degree in Reading.
Reframing Work, Identity, and Lifelong Learning
The book challenges assumptions about work too. In a traditional life model, work is often seen as the dominant period, followed by a long-awaited retirement. The 100-Year Life reframes this: instead of merely enduring work to reach the finish line, what if work could be something that we cycle through in multiple phases, punctuated by learning and personal reinvention? The idea here is not to stretch out our careers by simply working longer but to find ways to incorporate more varied experiences, learning opportunities, and personal fulfillment throughout. This has profound implications for education. Rather than seeing learning as something that happens exclusively at the beginning of life, we are now looking at lifelong learning as a necessity, as I mentioned in an example above.
A longer life also calls for a reconsideration of identity. “With longer life, identity will be based more on what you do than on where you started, and the more roles you take the less useful any one role will be in determining your identity”. [3] In the past, our sense of identity often came from our careers, which lasted for 30 or 40 years. If we live to 100, we’ll likely have multiple careers or periods of reinvention. This fluidity offers immense opportunities for growth and change but can also be challenging as it disrupts the traditional markers of success and stability. With age being a straightforward indicator of stage in a three-stage life, the multi-stage life is “age-agnostic”. [4]
Conclusion: Embracing the 100-Year Life
In the end, living to 100 can be a gift, but it’s one that requires preparation, adaptability, and intentionality. Gratton and Scott’s book is an invitation to rethink not only how a person approaches work and retirement but also how we design a life that remains vibrant and rewarding, no matter how long life lasts. As I consider the stage of life that I am in, the book helps me to think critically about where I am headed, how I am getting there, and how I can prepare now for living my numbered days for God’s glory.
[1] Psalm 92:12-14
[2] Lynda Graton and Andrew Scott, The 100 Year Life: Living and Working in an Age of Longevity, (London: Bloomsbury, 2020), xvii.
[3] Ibid, 120.
[4] Ibid, 170.
About the Author
Cathy Glei
Cathy Glei serves as an instructional leader and pastor with over 27 years in education and ministry. She is dedicated to discipling others as they grow in their relationship with God, others and the world. Cathy has facilitated numerous professional development sessions, trainings, and workshops in both education and ministry. Passionate about supporting others in uncovering the Creator's design within them, Cathy lives in Michigan with her husband, Steve, and their eight-year-old Springer Spaniel, Otis. Cathy is a mother of three daughters and "Gooma" (grandma) to two adorable grandsons (emphasis on adorable 😊). She enjoys listening and exchanging laughter and stories with others, hanging out with friends, both old and new, as well as being outdoors, enjoying activities such as cycling, camping, hiking, and kayaking.7 responses to “Living Long and Living Well: Rethinking Life in the Age of Longevity”
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Hi Cathy,
Nice post.
You wrote, “As I consider the stage of life that I am in, the book helps me to think critically about where I am headed, how I am getting there, and how I can prepare now for living my numbered days for God’s glory.”
As I look past May 2025, I can prayerfully seek God’s will for the next stages of my life.
This book also served as the impetus to ask my wife on her next academic steps. We discussed what her current job could teach her and what classes she could take to improve her grant writing skills.
I like the intentionality of the book, even though some critics say that it NOT focused on the average “joe.”
Sigh…what book covers all demographics? But this one spoke to mine.
Shalom.
Thanks Cathy for your post! it really made me think (rhetorically), if we live to 100, how do we stay fresh and fruitful, as Psalm 92 promises, while embracing constant reinvention along the way?
A tough one for sure!
You bring up an important point – to prepare now for living our numbered days for God’s glory. That is a question we all should be asking ourselves.
Also, I am not a “move to Florida after I retire” kind of person either! I find I am happiest when I am engaged in work and school – BUT, I too am looking forward to a time when life is a bit simpler!
Hi, Cathy,
Great post.
You mention “In the end, living to 100 can be a gift, but it’s one that requires preparation, adaptability, and intentionality.” What would you prepare for with intentionality if you had another 30 to 40 years of good health and strength?
Cathy…I appreciated your post, and I think your title so perfectly sums up your impactful point: living long does not automatically equate to living well–that takes intention, attention, faith, and planning as we journey through this life (however long that is) with God. It made me think of the line from William Wallace in Braveheart, “Every man dies. Not every man really lives!” Just because we are living longer, doesn’t mean we are living better! May God teach us to ‘number our days’ and live each one abiding in Christ and loving others–that’s a life well-lived regardless of the number attached to it!
Cathy you highlighted identity more on what you do than where you started. I often feel as we end our life, those that can move even further past identity in what you do to who you are. I have told many bedridden people who have lost their will to live with quality that we are human BEINGS not human DOINGS!
Well written Cathy.
Hi Cathy!
Thank you for your enlightening post. If you intend to prepare your children to embrace a 100-year life, what advice would you give them so that they can organize their lives well?