For Those Who Don’t Look Back, A New Frontier Awaits
Michelangelo portrait, courtesy of NYPL Public Domain Archive
When Michelangelo began work on Saint Peter’s Basilica at age 70, he was known to scoff at critics who labelled him too old and too feeble to undertake such a task. Undaunted by these remarks, he succeeded in creating perhaps the world’s most critically acclaimed religious edifice.
Benjamin Franklin fell victim to similar cynicism when he reached his twilight years. The crafty and cunning Franklin, however, proved to his younger counterparts that he was more than equal to the tasks demanded by a young and fledgling United States of America. At age 70, he helped to write the Declaration of Independence at age 79 and was named chief executive of the state of Pennsylvania.
These are but two examples that discount the myth of mental decline during the retirement years. Older persons have succeeded in providing later adult accomplishments that showcase later life accomplishments in terms of intellectual and creative output. Consider just the following:
· Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote some of her best children’s books and stories when she was in her 70s. In fact, her very first book was not published until she was 65.
· Albert Schweitzer was awarded the Nobel Prize in recognition of his efforts toward World Peace when he was 77.
· Douglas MacArthur was appointed commander of UN forces in Korea when he was 70.
· Cecil B De Mille made the movie The 10 Commandments when he was 75.
· Joe Biden celebrated his 78th birthday during his first year in office as President of the United States.
· At age 92, Gladys Burrill was the oldest female to compete in a marathon.
· Dorothy Davenhill Hirsch journeyed to The North Pole, at Age 89
· William Shatner at age 90 became the first person his age to journey into outer space.
· At age 87, Pablo Picasso produced 347 engravings in one year.
· Legendary film maker Clint Eastwood was still making movies at age 94.
· At age 91, singer-songwriter Willie Nelson was still creating music.
Such examples of intellectual and creative ability have undoubtedly etched themselves forever in the annals of time. One need not, however, soar to such lofty heights to disprove the myth of mental decline during the retirement years. Intellectual and creative mastery of the world exists in many shapes and forms and may manifest itself in the everyday exploits of older individuals. Thus, while earlier periods of adulthood provide a rich terrain for the accumulation of life experiences and accomplishments, many are now realizing that the retirement years offer an equally fruitful and productive span of the life cycle. And from all indications, this will only get better as time marches on.
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Age, Intelligence, and Creativity: Does Life Begin at 80? was originally published in Mindful Mental Health on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.