“ A plan to bring meaning to the last half of our lives. That the longevity that we are lucky enough to be benefitting from needs to be planned for, relished, used!”
I love how you’ve worded this sentiment, this need to make the most out of all of the times that (we hope) is left. I live in Provence, where I’m surrounded equally by interesting artists, entrepreneurs, and writers over 50, but also by people who are young, able, and fully retired from anything but golf, tennis...you get the picture. My husband and I can’t imagine a life without creating, without purpose and intention. Living here provides benefits associated with “retirement living” (eg sunshine, the sea, mountains & nature) but we leverage those perks as fuel for our well-being and creativity.
Love the work you’re creating here and with Noon. Thank you!
Eleanor, thank you for this. The article resonates with me as well as others I can see and imagine. The only thing I would see slightly differently is Matthew Perry as a "damaged man" and I would not describe him as "poor", though this may simply be a matter of semantics.
There was some damage, it seems clear, yes, like many other people in the spotlight of fame and outside of it, yet there was plenty about him that wasn't damaged, it appears. I don't think he would have wanted to be seen and remembered in any way as a victim, or wanted pity, which referring to someone as poor may imply. I may be mistaken here. It is often meant to denote compassion, pure and simple. He struggled, strived, against what happened to him, yet some things got the better of him, we don't know the full "story" yet. May never, in fact. That is perhaps for his closer friends and family only. X
Oh gosh I hadn't heard this news about Mathew Perry's (Chandler in Friends) death since I don't engage with news. So sad. He always reminds me of my brother. They have very similar appearances. And I didn't know his history.
I was listening to a podcast a few months ago and thye were talking about how healthy celebs have a healthy degree of self worth, meaning they don't need external validation. So I guess that those who do need it are the ones that struggle because they'll nevre have enough.
I would also like to think I, at 56, am only just over half way through my life. And I have a lot of meaningful relationships in my life. But I would like to take a 6 or 12 month sabbatical from it to have a rest from 'having a purpose' and just be still for a while....
As always perfectly observed. I hope your nest does not feel too empty when you get home.
Beautifully said, thank you for sharing what so many of us are feeling.
“ A plan to bring meaning to the last half of our lives. That the longevity that we are lucky enough to be benefitting from needs to be planned for, relished, used!”
I love how you’ve worded this sentiment, this need to make the most out of all of the times that (we hope) is left. I live in Provence, where I’m surrounded equally by interesting artists, entrepreneurs, and writers over 50, but also by people who are young, able, and fully retired from anything but golf, tennis...you get the picture. My husband and I can’t imagine a life without creating, without purpose and intention. Living here provides benefits associated with “retirement living” (eg sunshine, the sea, mountains & nature) but we leverage those perks as fuel for our well-being and creativity.
Love the work you’re creating here and with Noon. Thank you!
Eleanor, thank you for this. The article resonates with me as well as others I can see and imagine. The only thing I would see slightly differently is Matthew Perry as a "damaged man" and I would not describe him as "poor", though this may simply be a matter of semantics.
There was some damage, it seems clear, yes, like many other people in the spotlight of fame and outside of it, yet there was plenty about him that wasn't damaged, it appears. I don't think he would have wanted to be seen and remembered in any way as a victim, or wanted pity, which referring to someone as poor may imply. I may be mistaken here. It is often meant to denote compassion, pure and simple. He struggled, strived, against what happened to him, yet some things got the better of him, we don't know the full "story" yet. May never, in fact. That is perhaps for his closer friends and family only. X
Thank you for your words
Oh gosh I hadn't heard this news about Mathew Perry's (Chandler in Friends) death since I don't engage with news. So sad. He always reminds me of my brother. They have very similar appearances. And I didn't know his history.
I was listening to a podcast a few months ago and thye were talking about how healthy celebs have a healthy degree of self worth, meaning they don't need external validation. So I guess that those who do need it are the ones that struggle because they'll nevre have enough.
I would also like to think I, at 56, am only just over half way through my life. And I have a lot of meaningful relationships in my life. But I would like to take a 6 or 12 month sabbatical from it to have a rest from 'having a purpose' and just be still for a while....
Wonderful article, thank you
Thank you for this missive Els. Very touching. So true. Big love to you ❤️