The aging revolution is afoot! Life expectancies creep higher and higher. Stories of people starting new careers or staying in productive, enjoyable jobs well into their 70’s and 80’s are no longer rare. Older friends and relatives are taking trips, not just to see grandchildren, but to hike mountains and explore exotic lands halfway around the world. We can expect more of the same for ourselves. As the baby boom generation ages, the number of people over 55 will likely double from 58 million today to more than 116 million by 2040. There may be one million centenarians in the United States by 2050, up from around 65,000 in the most recent census. So if you are approaching a “certain age,” you are certainly not alone.

The baby boomers’ “coming of age” will have broad political, social, and cultural effects on our communities and our country. For each of us, the sheer length of this part of our lives requires consideration. People age 65 today can expect on average to live into their early 80s, mostly in their own homes, enjoying relatively good health. 

The prospect of this longer life presents us with a tremendous opportunity. We can do what we always meant to do or never had the courage to imagine—start a new career, obtain an advanced degree, set out on far-flung adventures. We can adjust priorities, give something back to our communities or nation. We can repair damage done to family or other relationships. We can begin, or renew, an exploration of our religious or spiritual beliefs, the mysteries of ourselves and the universe. It can, indeed it should, be the chance of a lifetime. 

The Future Me:  Authoring the Second Half of Your Life focuses on the cognitive, emotional, social, and spiritual aspects of aging well. The book is premised on the notion that the past is merely prologue. As teenagers we might have suspected that it would be “all over” by the age we are now. But, older and wiser—well older, anyway!—we can now prepare to begin—again. The questions and exercises are designed to help you take stock of where you are at this moment, and then to move forward, staying intellectually sharp, socially connected, personally productive, and spiritually engaged.  

Aging, like life itself, is not always easy. “Old age,” as they say, “is not for sissies.” Living a rich, exciting, whole life includes meeting challenges with courage and grace. It means using the time we have to be useful, to make and find beauty, and to develop our capacity for joy, wisdom, compassion, and love.