Ironically, for so many of us, this is when our U-curve of Happiness and crystalized intelligence are hockey-sticking. So why do the world’s expectations narrow while our potential is quietly expanding. The world starts to see us as “expensive” where it once saw “experienced,” “past your prime” where it used to see “indispensable.” That dissonance can be jarring.
For many of us, that’s when we step away—not because we’re finished, but because we refuse to let someone else write our final chapter.
I did what a lot of modern elders do: I reinvented. And let’s be honest, that reinvention is messy. It looks like “consulting,” or “portfolio work,” which is often code for following our curiosity with a half-baked plan and a full-hearted intention. One day you’re advising a leader, the next you’re helping a neighbor, the next you’re deep in a project that nourishes you in ways a job title never did. And, you start appreciating time affluence, maybe the greatest asset we own as we age.
Don’t cry for me, Argentina. Having just finished my delicious decade between 55-65, I have to say it’s felt like a second childhood as I’ve loved trying on a bunch of new identities and a few skills (still working on my juggling).
It’s possible that 55-65 is the most disparate decade of our lives because the diversity of aspirations or intentions will make your head spin. Some of us buckle-in for a life of entrepreneurial and purpose-driven adventure, while others look forward to a simpler life: a hammock, a good book, and a sunset margarita. Just know, you’re finally free to design what comes next—with wisdom as your co-pilot.
-Chip