DON’T DIE WITH YOUR MUSIC STILL IN YOU
I remember hearing this statement for the first time from renowned psychologist and author Wayne Dyer. I thought about it as I was watching a video yesterday of Stevie Nicks, who is in her mid 70s giving a R&R Hall of fame acceptance speech for her solo career. (She already has been inducted as part of Fleetwood Mac). This weekend a Gen-Xer was complaining to me about Biden’s age and that no one over 70 should be President. He is a nice fellow who hasn’t done much of anything or helped anyone (yet) disrespecting a man who has, Joe Biden. We tend to project our hopes and fears on to a President, maybe inserting their own perceived limitations as well. Blame them, or give them credit but it’s the people they surround themselves with that make policies happen and Biden has brilliant people around him. His wisdom and calm leadership comes from experience and that experience is crucial at this time.
Change that lasts rarely results from revolutions, it creeps along incrementally, sometimes two steps forward and one step back. The media reporting seems to lack self awareness around the simple fact that a contributing reason for the public’s focus on Biden’s age is related to their ubiquitous coverage. It’s taken on the feel of the Hillary’s emails coverage. The age factor is presented as if it has some kind of consequences and yet doesn’t explain what those might be. What is the problem with him being old exactly? They never tell us.
My young friend discounted this and is telling me, someone who founded a medical software distribution company from scratch in his 50s, started a non-profit in his 60s, wrote a book, then a second one. Essentially telling a person who will publish a third book and launch another foundation for animals while in his 70s, how useless we are. I should not have to endure this ageist nonsense. Do not let people define you. I was polite but maybe should have said, “Call me when you’ve done something”.
If you are reading this and have gray hair, be careful you don’t acquiesce to the conventional wisdom about what you can do. You have learned much, done much and have more to do. You are at the height of your knowledge and expertise this very moment. Finally, people’s fear of failure is the most limiting factor in life and yet it is regret that chases them in to death. Sing me out Stevie…