When I remember my initial days after joining the Methodist Church, I can recall the congregational care leader, Mr. Eugene Grant. At the end of our class meeting, Mr. Grant would conclude by saying, “May you be blessed, prosper, and have the health of John Wesley.” Wesley, the founder of Methodism, was a poster child for a well-lived life.<\/p>\n
It is estimated Wesley rode 250,000 miles over his lifetime on horseback, preaching 8 sermons every Sunday until his eyesight grew poor. He was a relatively fit man; historical records suggest he weighed close to 130 pounds. He was once quoted as saying, I am as strong at 81 as I was at 21…but abundantly more healthy, being a stranger to the headache, toothache, and other bodily disorders which attended me in my youth.[1]<\/strong> Aging well is the premise of Linda Gratton and Andrew Scott\u2019s The 100-Year Life. It concludes that we are now a part of a new dispensation in time. Life has transitioned to a multi-stage platform, and the increased rate of life expectancy has disrupted the common flow of education, work, and retirement.<\/p>\n Growing up in my context you were held in high regard if you completed the three-step process. You went to school- to go to work -and you work- so that you can retire- you retire and do little after and then you die. Following this pattern was also a pathway to status. The authors hit the nail on the head with the statement that re- creation will be more important than recreation.With change predicted in people, the workplace, and government, it is critical for people to reassess how to manage living life longer. The time element also falls directly in sync with another key theme, managing transition. This part hit home for me because I have seen friends, relatives, and colleagues hit the wall because they did not navigate the transitions well in life. They appear seemingly stuck in cement, attached to one phase of life and the good ole day. This could also be applied to business and corporate entities as I ponder how many businesses have shut their doors due to a failure to employ adaptive leadership.<\/p>\n I also resonated with the fact that the education we experienced in our formative years would not be sufficient for the emerging jobs and career spectrum. I find this to be spot on in my very own backyard. Central New York was once known as the manufacturing hub of the state. The steel, automotive, air-conditioning and alcohol and beverage industry employed tens of thousands of people. When manufacturing jobs left the region, it has since been replaced by STEM and many of the employees were not at retirement age forcing them to find sustainable income and working past 65.<\/p>\n It is true that many people built themselves on the three stage (education, employment, retire) module. It was refreshing to read that the authors did not leave readers with solely a problem as many do, but conversely point people towards an opportunity fixed with a positive outcome, A multi-stage life with new milestones and turning points creates numerous sequencing opportunities.<\/em> [3]<\/strong>Overall, one of the several things I appreciated about the book was the marriage of the author’s talents. Gratton, a professor of management practice, and Scott, a professor of economics. Their combined strong suits allowed me to see this simple but profound fact with a clearer perspective. One facet that was not abundantly clear, which I would have loved to know, was the success rate and specific ages of persons who recognized the signs of the present times and made a positive pivot.<\/p>\n Reading this book took me back to Jeremiah 29 as the Lord encouraged an exilic people to prepare for a long and prosperous stay, Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them; take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished. (Jeremiah 29: 5-7, NRSV)<\/p>\n May we all live a long, productive, and maximized life!<\/p>\n [1] <\/strong>Admin, CMS. \u201cThe Shocking Truth about John Wesley.\u201d Christianity Today. Last modified July 29, 2004. https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/2003\/03\/shocking-truth-about-john-wesley\/.<\/p>\n [2] <\/strong>Lynda Gratton and Andrew J. Scott, The 100-Year Life: Living and Working in an Age of Longevity<\/em> (London\u202f; New York, NY: Bloomsbury Business, 2017). Kindle. 174<\/p>\n \u00a0[3]<\/strong> Gratton and Scott. Kindle.7.<\/p>\n .<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When I remember my initial days after joining the Methodist Church, I can recall the congregational care leader, Mr. Eugene Grant. 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\nGratton and Scott speak of status when people work long hours then both they and others see them being busy and in demand, and therefore they may feel better about themselves and externally valued. [2]<\/strong>\u00a0The status factor is huge because everyone wants to be valued in life. However, as I grow older my personal preference is to do what I want to as opposed to doing what I have to. This calls for re-creation in life.<\/p>\n