{"id":38638,"date":"2024-10-07T09:00:59","date_gmt":"2024-10-07T16:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/?p=38638"},"modified":"2024-10-08T08:57:34","modified_gmt":"2024-10-08T15:57:34","slug":"the-gift-of-the-100-year-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/the-gift-of-the-100-year-life\/","title":{"rendered":"The Gift of the 100-Year Life"},"content":{"rendered":"

In The 100-Year Life, a<\/em>uthors Lynda Gratton and Andrew J. Scott contend that we live in the age of longevity. They consider the 100-year life an increasing reality and a gift that should be wisely planned for and reimagined. They ask, “How will you make the most of this gift?”[1]<\/a> I appreciate this perspective and hope to answer their essential question as I make my way through this blog post. I was pleasantly surprised to discover some of my decisions and experiences fit with what the authors present, but I’m also concerned about areas that require further consideration. It resonates that multiple careers and pivots are part of longevity. A fulfilling and meaningful pattern has emerged from the unexpected pivots and changes I’ve had to make throughout my life. No experience is wasted.<\/p>\n

Gratton and Scott explain how the three-stage life, consisting of education, employment, and retirement in that exact order, gives way to a multi-stage life with many creative options based on individual preferences and circumstances.[2]<\/a> The idea that many alternative approaches are available opens up a multitude of\u00a0 possibilities and meaningful contributions. In the three-stage model, order matters. I’ve learned that it doesn’t and that forging my own path has been my best option. Transformational assets, identity, and self-knowledge stood out as critical to maneuvering through the multi-stage life.<\/p>\n

Transformational Assets<\/em><\/p>\n

Transformational assets reflect one’s ability to manage transitions well and learn how to deal with life’s inevitable uncertainties. These transitions are threshold or liminal spaces in which changes occur in our life circumstances. What was once considered familiar and secure has given way to the unknown and unpredictable.[3]<\/a> Internal and external forces can bring on these transitions, which are often challenging to navigate. Transitions require patience and discernment. I imagine we’ve all had multiple transition points and acquired skills that make the adjustments easier. A few skills I’ve learned are flexibility, slowing down, normalizing the change, looking at challenges as opportunities for personal growth and spiritual transformation, and knowing that what I lose will be counted as gain.<\/p>\n

Identity<\/em><\/p>\n

The topic of identity has come up in much of our reading these past two years. Simon Walker, JR Woodward, Martin Bunton, and Francis Fukuyama broadened my understanding of what shapes identity. Gratton and Scott \u00a0note, “The forces that shape the living of a long life are economic, and financial, psychological and social, medical and demographic.”[4]<\/a> They add more nuance when they invite us to consider the “Who am I?” question and assert that the answer is more about our values and what we base our lives upon. They suggest asking our older selves what we would think of ourselves now. I’ve been asking myself similar questions for years. I’m not crafting a false self or relying on my roles or achievements, but instead stopping to consider how my choices in my current situation match what I value most, align with God’s call, and my current stage of life. Identity formation requires self-reflection.<\/p>\n

Self-knowledge<\/em><\/p>\n

Gratton and Scott emphasized the importance of understanding yourself, being willing to receive feedback, and engaging in self-reflection.[5]<\/a> Personal reflection and humility were highlighted and demonstrated during our Advance in Washington, D.C. Along with the idea that leaders need to practice these skills regularly, we witnessed this in every speaker as they shared their experiences of transition and challenge. What a gift! Transformation and growth as leaders come from honest reflection, making course corrections, and living out our values in humble obedience to God’s call. Dr. Clark, Brett Fuller, Tammy Dunahoo, Jim Wallis, Mack McLarty, and Shirley Hoogstra all shared stories of how they had to pivot and grow when unexpected changes occurred. They inspire me to continue to seek God’s will in uncertain and transitional times, knowing that things might not turn out as I hope but might turn out better than I imagine.<\/p>\n

The 100-Year Life<\/em> complements what Richard Rohr wrote about two significant tasks of life in his book Falling Upward, <\/em>“The first task is to build a strong “container” or identity; the second is to find the contents that the container was meant to hold.”[6]<\/a> The fourth stage Gratton and Scott describe is second half of life work. Careful planning, a specialized skill set, and a willingness to let go of old identities create space for a more integrated self to emerge in the second half of life.<\/p>\n

Aging doesn’t bother me very much. I’ve looked forward to every new decade with anticipation and curiosity. I wonder and sometimes worry about what new opportunities and challenges might come my way and my ability to cope. I’ve also learned that God seems to prepare me for what comes next. While transitions may be challenging, I can utilize the skills I have and learn new ones. I’ve gained perspective on life’s joys, challenges, and beauty from those who have lived long. I remember those whose lives were cut short and I’m reminded to be present and appreciate the life I’m living. A long life is a blessing that should not be taken for granted. I’m realistic about aging, the importance of good health care, financial security, and a strong community.<\/p>\n

For a brief time, my family was five-generational. That rare gift creates a connection to those who have gone before and who are coming after me. Planning for a 100-year life is wise, but I must hold my plans loosely and prayerfully. Life is a gift from God. I’m not guaranteed a long one. The 100-Year Life <\/em>serves as a reminder that at any age, we can continue to contribute in diverse ways for the common good and be fulfilled while doing so.<\/p>\n

[1]<\/a> Lynda Gratton and Andrew J. Scott The 100 Year-Life: Living and Working in the Age of Longevity <\/em>(Bloomsbury: London, UK, 2020), 2.<\/p>\n

[2]<\/a> Gratton and Scott, The 100-Year Life<\/em>, 9-10.<\/p>\n

[3]<\/a> Ibid., 115-117.<\/p>\n

[4]<\/a> Ibid., 16.<\/p>\n

[5]<\/a> Ibid., 120.<\/p>\n

[6]<\/a> Richard Rohr, Falling Upwards: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life<\/em> Revised & Updated (Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2024), xv.<\/p>\n

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In The 100-Year Life, authors Lynda Gratton and Andrew J. Scott contend that we live in the age of longevity. They consider the 100-year life an increasing reality and a gift that should be wisely planned for and reimagined. They ask, “How will you make the most of this gift?”[1] I appreciate this perspective and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":184,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2310],"tags":[2489,3205,3206],"class_list":["post-38638","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-doctor-of-leadership-3","tag-dlgp02","tag-gratton","tag-scott","cohort-dlgp02"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38638","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/184"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38638"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38638\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":38710,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38638\/revisions\/38710"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38638"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38638"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38638"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}