I’m old enough, for sure, but I actually feel great. Mentally, even better. More and more projects kept popping up and I found myself busier and less willing to commit time to writing. Even though I wasn’t writing I thought about it often; crafting stories in my head but never putting fingers to keyboard. Oddly enough, AI (ChatGPT) got me thinking about writing here again, but not what you’re probably thinking. I use AI a lot and really see value in it-just not here. What is the point of pouring your heart out if all you plan on doing is running it through AI for a better-smarter-funnier version of yourself? So, good or bad, this is from me to you.

Turning 70 was different than the birthdays before. 50 was the typical over-the-hill black balloon affair. I could look back with some fondness and know there was still so much I wanted to do and still plenty of time to do it. 60 was a little stressful. All the jobs, careers, and business endeavors leading up to this point had run their course, some with better outcomes than others. Now I found myself likely to be starting over again. I was still upbeat and sure I would land on top in some capacity. Whatever the situation, I still felt I had plenty of time to accomplish big things because I’m not retiring anytime soon!

70 gave me an entirely different perspective on my future. Sure, I had energy but not what I did years ago; who does? Mainly I had resigned myself to be at peace with what I had accomplished and not feel like I still had something to prove. Resigned isn’t the right word exactly…It’s not so much that the best years are behind me-I still feel I can accomplish goals, they are just more bite-size. I was on Medicare and receiving Social Security with very little is savings left, but felt oddly calm. We (my wife Lisa) are healthy & active, Reflecting back on 50+ years in the workforce I really didn’t want to be an owner…or even a boss. Any consideration of working like an owner and running the show was completely unappealing. Working is, and will always be a necessity, but I have become an excellent employee with no desire for advancement.

If you are 70, perhaps you have had a similar revelation. Before then, I had a strange idea that I could still invest in long-term goals that required me to work as though I were 30 years old. I can still do quite a bit, but the thought of moving occasionally heavy stuff for hours at a time for a 1 year..5 years…I don’t think so. That said, I like working. It is a great form of exercise and it generates an income. This is a good thing because we need the income and hope that Social Security doesn’t end anytime soon.

If you find yourself in a similar situation to mine, I wish you luck-and good health.