This book helped my perspective
Since former President Carter lived to be 100, I thought it might be good for me to imbibe his perspective. Any book with that title was bound to be a great counterpoint to my own not as sanguine view of my personal aging journey. And I was rewarded, for as one reads, the underlying positive mental atmosphere is contagious.
Some good reminders
The book, copyrighted in 1998, begins with a little background, remembering the adjustments needed to overcome an unwelcome forced retirement after a lost Presidential election. Retirement when you didn’t plan to do so is common, so right away, the reader relates more than they expected they might. Chapters are short and easy to read. Another early chapter discusses the difference between aging in our parent’s and grandparent’s generations and aging today. He reminds us that many of our perspectives on aging are unconsciously borrowed from earlier generations and don’t really fit the extended life expectancies and improved health of today’s older folks.
We’re repeatedly made aware by internet memes that one of the characteristics of super-agers is physical activity. President Carter and Rosalyn were shining examples of this. They were still playing tennis together in their seventies when the book was written. And he was still going hunting with his sons occasionally. It must have reenforced what I already knew, as I have been getting more exercise myself since I read the book.
One cannot help but be impressed with the connections the Carters maintained with people in this country and in other countries. The travels mentioned, the people they visited, and, of course, the many unnamed folks who came to Plains GA, all must have added up to a dizzying social life that most of us cannot imagine. But, in the least, it again keeps us on perspective. Researchers are telling us also that social connection is a huge positive factor for successful aging.
A few reflections on issues
Occasionally the narrative pauses for a serious discussion of a national issue. For example, the end of chapter four discusses the coming crisis in Social Security around 2030 (and remember this was written 28 years ago). He wrote bluntly warning that Social Security laws will have to change. Another such topic is what I thought was a very wise observation about work statistics in general.
“The fact is that in every decade after age fifty-five, unpaid work is the main form of productive activity for both men and women, and yet statistics overlook this and create a serious impression of idleness.” p. 102.
While there may be more paid work by older people in 2026, there is also a tremendous increase in care-giving, one of the forms of unpaid work that gets missed by statistics.
The underlying attitude inspired!
I found a gem of a quote that summarizes the Carters’ attitude and distills the book’s intent so well.
“Our primary purpose in our golden years is not just to stay alive as long as we can, but to savor every opportunity for pleasure, excitement, adventure, and fulfillment.” pp. 39,40
Chapter six is a goldmine and spills out treasures one after another. Here is a list of recommendations for a good retirement gleaned from there.
- Assess your potential and your limits; envision the final results you desire; make ambitious plans accordingly; then implement them.
- For things to do, repeat things that have been delightful in the past.
- Dig into personal interests you didn’t have time for while working.
- Take up a new hobby.
These recommendations put into practice the philosophy of this quote.
“We should consider life as expanding, not contracting, and modern technology can help make this ambition easier to realize. A person my age now has the remaining potential that only a much younger person had just a few decades ago.” pp 51,52
Speaking of hobbies, chapter eight titled “Seventy, Going on Eighty” discusses Jimmy and Rosalyn’s hobbies. Wow, and I thought I had a bunch of them. He discusses bird-watching, mountain-climbing, skiing, tennis, writing books, cabinet-making and hunting. Active bodies and active minds are healthier bodies and sharper minds too, in general.
Wrap-up and recommendations
My only disappointment in the book is that former President Carter waits until the very end to explicitly include his faith perspective even though much of his optimism and concern for others grows directly from it. For example, in discussing exceptional old people that he had known in chapter 13, he writes a line that could have been from his Sunday School class at the Baptist Church were he taught SS class for many years, an activity he seldom mentions in this book.
“One subtle measurement of life’s quality is the degree of interest we have in things outside ourselves.” p. 119
In chapter 14 he discusses the more difficult aspects of aging.
“It is a sign of maturity when we can accept honestly and courageously that frustrated dreams, illness, disability, and eventual death are all normal facets of a person’s existence-and that despite these, we can still continue to learn, grow, and adopt challenging goals.” p. 122
In this context and near the very end of the book, Carter mentions Jesus explicitly, though he also goes on to mention ideals for other faiths.
“Within each successful and happy life there also needs to be some concept of greatness, some superb example to follow, something on which we can always depend, something that is inspirational, exalting, transcendent… The transcendent goal for a Christian is emulation of the life of Christ.” p 123,124
I recommend this book. This is a great quick read for sixty and seventy-somethings who would like to boost their own attitude and approach to aging. It will help your perspective as it did mine. However, if you are looking for an explicitly faith-based approach to aging, this is likely not the right choice.