Setting Standards by Defying the Age

I live in a place where 60 or 62 is considered old enough to stop working, it is also an official entry into the senior citizen category, the fancy term to old age. Professions dependent on the physical or mental strength or both need certain retirement age. For example, sportsperson retire at 40 because their body and mind cannot sustain the mandatory extreme intensity.

But I wonder if the boundary endorses them to abjure from everything along with the professional life. It is not strange to find many employees taking the official number seriously and restrain from indulging in many activities, which were felt normal when they were just a step away from the line. And the people around are always excited to bolster their perception. The body and mind, after trying enough to disapprove the perception, eventually fall in line to show their compelled acceptance.

Many activities keep falling behind us as we step into a new year, but life in us can never be in the list. With the age, you can stop may be swimming, dancing or anything else, but we cannot stop living. Life is not about doing anything but keeping the enthusiasm to live alive. I feel disheartened finding someone sitting at home may be at 60 or 65 perceiving that they can only do that. Let me share some examples of people who consider prove that age is just a number. Before you read, be assured that as you read through ,the examples get closer to you.

People Considering Age as Just a Number

Global First

Warren Buffet, the ace investor, stepped down as the CEO of Berkshire Hathway at the age of 95. What? Yes, you read it right, 95 is the number. Till then, his consistent routine included arriving at the office by 6.45 AM every day. Getting ourselves comfortable to even imagine someone going to office at 85 or 80 or even 75 seems to be tough. He maintained it till 95.

Country Next

Out of the two examples I am about to share, one is Ram Jethmalani, renowned for his strong legal intellect. He announced his retirement from active legal practice at the age of 94. This is 32 years away from what normal people perceive at the retirement age. At the age of 94, he was active enough to analyse and write a letter regarding statements expressed by one of the judges at the high court.

“Ram Jethmalani is famous; we cannot emulate him.” Let me get down to a normal person.

Recently, I read an article about two sisters who are setting standards on leading every minute of life with excitement. Mandakini Shah and Usha, two sisters who at the age of 87 and 84 respectively, teach students, drive a bike, meet friends regularly and reluctant to stay away from any famous food joint in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Mandakini Shah worked as a Montessori teacher and was also involved in women welfare activities. She learned riding a bike at the age of 62. She strongly believes in women being self-reliant and never miss any chance to enjoy the essence of life.

Around Me

I am lucky enough to find people around me who fall into this category. Dr. Itikala Srinivasa Rao, who practised medicine for around 40 years in USA before returning to India in 2003. He established a free health centre at the age of 65, lead it successfully till he was 78. Never faded away by the multiple unfortunate situations he was in, welcomes life as it comes. When the earth beneath us was shaking in the covid rampage, he travelled to Kedarnath. He was 80 years young at that time. Even at 85, he never leaves a chance to sit in the car’s navigation seat to visit temples in Hyderabad. Being someone close enough to watch him go through the tough times, I wonder how someone can be so strong to brush off everything with a smile.

Common Traits That Helped Them Defy the Age

The information I find on staying young, fit and strong revolves around relying on yoga, diet and exercises. I am sure they help a lot to keep oneself active. But I figured out a couple of traits as the reasons to keep them active for a long time.

1. They Don’t Have a Job, They Have a Purpose of Life

Purpose of Life, this seems to be a largest contributor. The people in the examples above are focused on their purpose and meaning of life. It might be a profession or a passion to enjoy life. Warren Buffet enjoys delving into balance sheets to findthe right company to bet on. Ram Jethmalani was always excited about law; he was known to be one of the top legal intellects of the country. They considered investing or advocacy as their purpose of life rather than a job. You can find others like Advani and Dr. Manmohan Singh who crossed 90 with ease, with focus on politics and finance.

The other not very well-known people have a purpose to lead their life in the best possible way. They don’t wake up to go a job; they wake up to get going with their self-defined purpose of life. It can be engaging with the community or to serve God or fellow human beings. In simple words, they don’t retire. They keep themselves mentally active.

Typing this made me realize a strong correlation with the concept called IKIGAI as mentioned in the book titled Blue Zones.

2. Emotional Balance

Warren Buffet mentioned that his portfolio was down by 50% many times. How many of you can stay calm when your 1 billion USD portfolio is down by even 30%? The rush through your blood to exit the portfolio will surely crush your confidence to hold on. He stayed calm, not just once. Ram Jethmalani might have lost many high-profile cases; those failures didn’t shake him. I personally know what Dr. Srinivasa Rao has gone through; he never let the smile fade away. The emotional balance displayed helped them stay longer and stronger.

3. Social Connectivity

I learned that social connectivity as another common trait among the people who defy the age. They maintain deep rooted social connections and frequent interactions. Quality supersedes quantity in this regard. The number need not be a bigger one, but the connections have to be deep enough to have a meaningful and stress-free interactions. The conversations have to be open, non-judgmental and stay away from reading between the lines.

I am sure there must be other traits such as discipline, consistency and good food habits which work along with the other two mentioned above to prove that age is just a number.

Let me know your thoughts and share any examples you might know of.