The 60-Something Crisis Quotes

“These elements of purpose as a life design tool are worrying: If you aren’t able to find your purpose, you can feel inadequate. You can waste time searching for the elusive purpose. A couple of statements are too narrow or broad for a life. How am I to incorporate all of who I am, who I want to be, my hopes and aspirations, into one or two statements? As a rule, life statements do not drench everyday life with vigor and verve. Most are either totally boring and generic or ridiculously grandiose, rendering them unattainable. Life is change. One’s life purpose statement is constantly up for revision during a lifetime. The Internet offers “life purpose statements you can adopt,” which seems the ultimate insult for this practice.”
― Barbara L. Pagano, The 60-Something Crisis: How to Live an Extraordinary Life in Retirement

“Chronological age is a force that logs our time on earth with the most power. But in case you haven’t heard, we humans have two different ages—chronological and biological.”
― Barbara L. Pagano, The 60-Something Crisis: How to Live an Extraordinary Life in Retirement

“Just take a moment to think about what could make life in retirement extraordinary. Begin to ponder these questions: What might living an extraordinary life look like? What would I do for a chance to live life the way I really want? How high will I set my expectations for a well-lived life? How hard will I work to get it?”
― Barbara L. Pagano, The 60-Something Crisis: How to Live an Extraordinary Life in Retirement

“Retirement is not a feeling. But life in retirement yields a bushel of opportunities and chances for joy, love, serenity, amusement, pride, and amazement. While situations in life often just happen, more often we neglect trying to make them happen. Your 60s can be a declaration of trying. By establishing horizons to guide you, your future will not stall in transition. You may well do more in your last third of life than you or anyone expected.”
― Barbara L. Pagano, The 60-Something Crisis: How to Live an Extraordinary Life in Retirement

“Fifth, Righting Regret”
― Barbara L. Pagano, The 60-Something Crisis: How to Live an Extraordinary Life in Retirement

“Fourth, “You” Are Unfinished”
― Barbara L. Pagano, The 60-Something Crisis: How to Live an Extraordinary Life in Retirement

“Third, the Magic of 65”
― Barbara L. Pagano, The 60-Something Crisis: How to Live an Extraordinary Life in Retirement

“Second, We Discount the Future”
― Barbara L. Pagano, The 60-Something Crisis: How to Live an Extraordinary Life in Retirement

“While we have a necessary innocence in each season of life, in our 60s, five events happen to make this decade uniquely positioned to queue up awareness, find the discipline, and start heading into the last third of life. First, the 70s Sneak Up on You”
― Barbara L. Pagano, The 60-Something Crisis: How to Live an Extraordinary Life in Retirement

“But 60 is the ultimate initiation where we now encounter longer years ahead with less time to live and at the same time we grow into old. If we act now, we won’t end up lost and trying to figure it all out in our 70s. We can end up in a new decade dropping anchor smack into a life we love to the end of days. We have just enough time. The decade is one of perfect timing and critical outcomes. That’s the big deal about being a 60-something.”
― Barbara L. Pagano, The 60-Something Crisis: How to Live an Extraordinary Life in Retirement

“As 20-somethings, we looked ahead to adulthood with high hopes, dreams, and excitement. But as 60-year-olds, we often bring low and vague expectations to create a substantial barrier to a life stage of wonder, hopes, dreams, excitement, and adventure.”
― Barbara L. Pagano, The 60-Something Crisis: How to Live an Extraordinary Life in Retirement

“The crisis of unfulfilled lives in the last third of life unfolds gradually, often with acquiesced boredom and a flimsy search for purpose. Our relevancy blows hot and cold as we age, and we too easily mistake comfort for contentment.”
― Barbara L. Pagano, The 60-Something Crisis: How to Live an Extraordinary Life in Retirement