Who Do You Want to Be When You Grow Old?

May 31, 2021
In this valuable guide, executive coach Leider (Repacking Your Bags) and philosopher Shapiro lay out a plan for finding satisfaction for those entering their later years. “Taking the path of purposeful aging,” they write, requires “growing into elderhood, expressing more of our true selves in all that we do,” and waking up every day with the intention to grow and give. Each chapter centers on a common question about aging, such as what’s the purpose of living, if everyone is going to die? (The authors believe death gives life its meaning: “Growing old is not a bug in life’s program; it is a feature.”) Also pondered are “Will I Earn a Passing Grade in Life?” and “How Do I Stop Living a Default Life?” The authors then provide questions readers should ask themselves to inspire further emotional growth—such as what was the finest chapter of one’s life and why? What legacy does one want to leave? And what are one’s core values? The authors’ gentle tone and many helpful suggestions will make readers feel as if they are listening to a close friend. For aging readers inclined to live an examined life, this will provide much food for thought.