Age is about loss. To combat that we have the regenerative strength of memory. It washes over us like a powerful surf, sweeping us into a vivid & vital past. And sadly, it also brings an undertow, threatening to pull us from what was to what is. Don’t give “what is” any hold. “What was” is always there, not as an escape but as a reminder of happy & tragic events, failures & successes, love & lovers, the underscoring of family. Retreating into memory is a kind of time travel, where you immerse yourself in all the happenings & people that made you what you became, what you are. Memories. Celebrate them, cash in on them. They are a sustaining mindfulness that make a day worthwhile.
Fairly early on in my tenure at The Globe, I realized that most of the acquaintances and respectful relationships I made would not long (if at all) survive my retirement, that many were owing to position, not person. I have always been fine with that. It is the way of the world, and I count myself lucky to have had a good run at all.
Jimmy Carter said he wouldn't have been able to handle the job of President when he was 80. But he was able to find away to remain relevant in his later years.
I can understand, to a certain degree, why Joe Biden, having spent so long and having experienced so many setbacks, would be reluctant to not try for the pinnacle one last time.
As for your intro to the main focus of this Endgame, I remain an adherent of Stephen Sondheim's 'I'm still here' -- a paean to resilience -- from his wonderful commentary on aging 'Follies'.
Excellent piece and sage advice. I was assembled (through the kindness of three generations of my family) into Highland dress yesterday and attended a lovely wedding. I noticed that I was diminishing in height - no use raging about that either!
I talk to my Auntie Carla in St. John's, Newfoundland every week. She's 103. We laugh all the time. She told me decades ago, you must always make younger friends! Great post.
“The paths of glory lead but to the grave.” Inglorious paths lead to the same place. All that matters is how we walk those paths. Memoirs, etc. are not bad. They may be meaningful to many, besides oneself, making this world a little bit better, bringing something like a smile. Mere good living with others can leave us and them with some smile after we are gone.
Some time after he sold his company, McClelland and Stewart and tried, unsuccessfully, to become a literary agent, a woman came up to Jack at a funeral reception and asked, “Didn’t you used to be Jack McClelland?”
I was never relevant or visible. I always hoped I would be. At 68, I know I’ve failed. That’s a hard pill to swallow. Yet I can’t think of one thing I would change. I gave everything my best shot. Some are doomed to insignificancy.
"Insignificancy"? I wonder. Relevant and visible can come in many forms. One need not be President. It can be important to do "little" things, like help a neighbour, friend, or other person or group. A friendly comment or smile can make someone's day.
Those things are the baseline for every human. Anyone can do them, daily. They are as easy as breathing. But the reward is in the doing. You rarely become relevant, visible or significant in return, but you don’t expect it.
However, when you pour your soul into work not everyone can do and it comes to nothing, not becoming relevant or visible can feel like total failure.
I imagine it can feel like failure, but perhaps not Total failure? I edited a book called Understanding and Coping with Failure. For the cover, I chose a portrait of Van Gogh. He never sold a painting in his lifetime. Now they all sell for millions. Was he a failure? Perhaps your having poured your soul into your work is the success? That's what Van Gogh did and I think I do, and you have done. (My book is a collection of essays by psychotherapists and psychoanalysts and might not be so interesting to others -- not a total success.)
While I'm still (barely) relevant, many of my patients can relate to this cogent line from King Lear, "How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is to have a thankless child”
The picture of Olivier as Lear is perfect for the play.marvellous.
But the truth is my energy is slipping and rage is wasted to be saved for getting out of the shower.
Still life is pretty interesting with Trump,friends,memories and writing.
Memories of Chartres,Stanfield,Lougheed,,Rembrandt,jury trials,Thatcher Lee Quan Yew,Robarts Trudeau Senior,appearing by invitation to address the Supreme Court about art,guiding in all of Europe’s major galleries.
Many close friends have passed away,lucky to be here
What i can't figure out is why nobody is talking about Dr. Jill Biden/ She knew her husband was compromised but did nothing about it and encouraged him to run again.
Age is about loss. To combat that we have the regenerative strength of memory. It washes over us like a powerful surf, sweeping us into a vivid & vital past. And sadly, it also brings an undertow, threatening to pull us from what was to what is. Don’t give “what is” any hold. “What was” is always there, not as an escape but as a reminder of happy & tragic events, failures & successes, love & lovers, the underscoring of family. Retreating into memory is a kind of time travel, where you immerse yourself in all the happenings & people that made you what you became, what you are. Memories. Celebrate them, cash in on them. They are a sustaining mindfulness that make a day worthwhile.
Fairly early on in my tenure at The Globe, I realized that most of the acquaintances and respectful relationships I made would not long (if at all) survive my retirement, that many were owing to position, not person. I have always been fine with that. It is the way of the world, and I count myself lucky to have had a good run at all.
Jimmy Carter said he wouldn't have been able to handle the job of President when he was 80. But he was able to find away to remain relevant in his later years.
I can understand, to a certain degree, why Joe Biden, having spent so long and having experienced so many setbacks, would be reluctant to not try for the pinnacle one last time.
As for your intro to the main focus of this Endgame, I remain an adherent of Stephen Sondheim's 'I'm still here' -- a paean to resilience -- from his wonderful commentary on aging 'Follies'.
Excellent piece and sage advice. I was assembled (through the kindness of three generations of my family) into Highland dress yesterday and attended a lovely wedding. I noticed that I was diminishing in height - no use raging about that either!
I talk to my Auntie Carla in St. John's, Newfoundland every week. She's 103. We laugh all the time. She told me decades ago, you must always make younger friends! Great post.
“The paths of glory lead but to the grave.” Inglorious paths lead to the same place. All that matters is how we walk those paths. Memoirs, etc. are not bad. They may be meaningful to many, besides oneself, making this world a little bit better, bringing something like a smile. Mere good living with others can leave us and them with some smile after we are gone.
Some time after he sold his company, McClelland and Stewart and tried, unsuccessfully, to become a literary agent, a woman came up to Jack at a funeral reception and asked, “Didn’t you used to be Jack McClelland?”
Jack allowed that he had, once
As dear retired politician friend of mine said, "it takes no time at all to go from a "who's who to a who's he"!!
Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Biden both. Unforgivable.
I was never relevant or visible. I always hoped I would be. At 68, I know I’ve failed. That’s a hard pill to swallow. Yet I can’t think of one thing I would change. I gave everything my best shot. Some are doomed to insignificancy.
"Insignificancy"? I wonder. Relevant and visible can come in many forms. One need not be President. It can be important to do "little" things, like help a neighbour, friend, or other person or group. A friendly comment or smile can make someone's day.
Those things are the baseline for every human. Anyone can do them, daily. They are as easy as breathing. But the reward is in the doing. You rarely become relevant, visible or significant in return, but you don’t expect it.
However, when you pour your soul into work not everyone can do and it comes to nothing, not becoming relevant or visible can feel like total failure.
I imagine it can feel like failure, but perhaps not Total failure? I edited a book called Understanding and Coping with Failure. For the cover, I chose a portrait of Van Gogh. He never sold a painting in his lifetime. Now they all sell for millions. Was he a failure? Perhaps your having poured your soul into your work is the success? That's what Van Gogh did and I think I do, and you have done. (My book is a collection of essays by psychotherapists and psychoanalysts and might not be so interesting to others -- not a total success.)
While I'm still (barely) relevant, many of my patients can relate to this cogent line from King Lear, "How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is to have a thankless child”
Sandy Horodezky
The picture of Olivier as Lear is perfect for the play.marvellous.
But the truth is my energy is slipping and rage is wasted to be saved for getting out of the shower.
Still life is pretty interesting with Trump,friends,memories and writing.
Memories of Chartres,Stanfield,Lougheed,,Rembrandt,jury trials,Thatcher Lee Quan Yew,Robarts Trudeau Senior,appearing by invitation to address the Supreme Court about art,guiding in all of Europe’s major galleries.
Many close friends have passed away,lucky to be here
Lucky to have Philip as a friend
What i can't figure out is why nobody is talking about Dr. Jill Biden/ She knew her husband was compromised but did nothing about it and encouraged him to run again.
I guess she liked being First Lady.