Who says you are growing old?

“Your Song” is one of my favorites. Elton John released this when I was still a young kid in school. The popular singer was asked what “growing old” meant to him, he said, “I still want to make music, but I don’t want to look like Donald Duck while doing it.”

The times have changed. The business landscape keeps on changing and even demographics are changing. But to many people, their mindsets have not yet embraced the changes. It’s no longer unusual today to find people living longer lives.

In the 1890s, the average male life expectancy was 37. One hundred years later, it doubled. According to a 2013 edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, “70 is the new 30.”

Leonard Sweet, in his fascinating book entitled, The Well-Played Life: Why Pleasing God Doesn’t Have to Be Such Hard Work, points out a very interesting fact. He says the English Royal Family sends out birthday greeting cards to their subjects when they reach 100 years of age. And the number is continuously increasing.

This extended life longevity challenges the way we think and the way we live our lives. The productive long life is still a very new concept in our society and the stereotype “grandfather seated on a rocking chair playing with the grandkids” still occupies our minds.

Just listen to the typical questions or statements people ask when they come across a baby boomer:

“When did you retire?”

“You’re probably playing golf everyday.”

“You must be very happy playing with your grandkids everyday.”

“You must be doing a lot of traveling.”

I remember a popular TV series from many years ago called “The Love Boat” where you see senior citizens spending their retirement money on cruise. This notion seems embedded deep into our psyche.

The mandatory retirement age for senior company executives has been extended from 60 to 65 years of age. Many of them have suffered numerous burnouts and want to live a quiet life away from the hustle and bustle (a baby boomer term) of the highly politicized corporate environment. Then they wait until illness sets in and then life begins to revolve around doctor’s offices and hospital visits.

But this is no longer the case today. Many “senior citizens” are actually living healthy lives and can still be very useful for many years. Maybe, this is not a welcome news to the next generation waiting for their turn to be the top honchos of their companies, but if the “seniors” continue to be both mentally and physically fit, then expect them to be around for many years to come.

If you are in this period of your life, celebrate and enjoy. This is no longer a season in your life for intense competition. This is the time in your life when you need to work on significance and meaning. Mentor people and share with them your valuable wisdom and experiences. Be the sage on stage. Be a good example and stop calling attention to yourself.

In every area of your life, you need to build up nobility, honor and leave a godly legacy for the generations to come. Live the remaining years of your life being productive, positive and progressive. For after all, our lives are merely loaned from the author of life and He is extending the terms. And when this one is over, the next life with Him is infinitely greater.

(Start the New Year right with Francis Kong learning leadership and life skills as he present Level Up Leadership on Jan. 21-22 at EDSA Shangri-La Hotel. For further inquiries, contact Inspire at 09158055910 or call 632-6310912 for details.)