Yesterday I joined 4 million baby-boomers who turn 60 in 2012. That’s right, me, Dan Akroyd, Vladamir Putin, Liam Neeson, and Mr. T; we all make a significant turn this year.
It was an eventful year, 1952. Albert Schweitzer won the Nobel Peace Prize. Hemmingway’s Old Man in the Sea was published. King George died and Elizabeth II was crowned Queen of England. The Yankees beat the Brooklyn Dodgers in the World Series. T.V. shows (in black and white) included Howdy Doody, I’ve Got a Secret, Dragnet, and the Perry Como Show.1
I must admit, the milestone is only significant in that it was an excuse to have a lovely celebration with my family. Having said “no gifts”, I managed to get a collection of meaningful mementos. Cheryl and I realized we are now “turning the corner” and will soon be married for more years than we have not been.
Tony Schwartz, CEO of The Energy Project, recently published 10 important messages about turning 60, in the Harvard Business Review. Two of them struck a chord. He said, “Let go of certainty. The opposite isn’t uncertainty. It’s openness, curiosity and a willingness to embrace paradox, rather than choose up sides. The ultimate challenge is to accept ourselves exactly as we are, but never stop trying to learn and grow.”The second missive was to “Slow down”. Speed is the enemy of nearly everything in life that really matters. It’s addictive and it undermines quality, compassion, depth, creativity, appreciation and real relationship.”2 Well, maybe I will pay attention to the first suggestion; I’ve never been any good at slowing down.
As the saying goes, I suspect I won’t feel any different tomorrow when compared to yesterday. I will just be mindful of the words of the famous philosopher, Leroy “Satchel” Paige, who said, “Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.3
If you have any thoughts about a milestone birthday, just comment on the blog, or better yet, please stop by then Macklem House, my door is always open.
Richard
1. http://www.angelfire.com/md2/timewarp/1952.html
2. http://blogs.hbr.org/schwartz/2012/05/turning-60-the-twelve-most.html
Happy belated birthday!
I like the 2 messages about turning 60 that you chose but I would like to suggest that they can (and should) apply at any age. Thank you for sharing. Suzanne
Suzanne
Thanks for your kind words. And you are right, the messages ring true at any age.
Richard
Happy Belated Birthday Dr. Reznick!
You are a wonderful person who has gained our family’s respect. We miss you dearly. Please say hello to Cheryl and your mom.
Sincerely,
Silvana, Adriana, Luisa & Remo
Dear Silvana, Adriana, Luisa, and Remo,
Thanks for your wonderful words. The respect and affection is mutual!
Your family has done so much to raise cancer awareness. Single handedly you have raised funds to support cancer research each year for more than a decade.
All my very best,
Richard
Dear Dr. Reznick
Happy sixtieth birthday. Many more of them.
Boyd Upper
Boyd, thanks so much. All my best,
Richard
When I turned 60 my birthday celebrations lasted a couple of days. Turning 65 was a whole week of celebrating by family and friends. Can you imagine what 70′s going to be like? I know one thing about it-I’ll be somewhere in Africa, in a game park, checking out the wildlife. It just gets better, and to paraphrase Mr Paige, I don’t mind. I still stay in touch with what’s happening in my profession of nursing. At least now I have time to read and digest the newspaper/online editorials and actually think about the points the writers are trying to make.
Turning 60 is a milestone birthday, and to quote Robert Frost, we still ‘have miles to go before (we) sleep’. Here’s to some fabulous miles! And may we always be too young to be whatever age the calendar says we are.
Phyllis Durnford
Nursing Science ’69
Dear Phyllis,
Your comments are always so eloquent and wise. Hanks for the goos wishes. Best of luck planning your trip to Africa.
Richard
Add me to your list, Richard. August 2 was the date for me.
Had a fabulous but all too short time in Kingston at the Meds ’77 reunion. Our classmates who remained on faculty at Queen’s showed us all a marvelously good time, and it was so nice to be back after all too long an absence. The city and the University looked spectacular, and rival any of the college campuses and towns I’ve seen south of the 49th.
Love to Cheryl and your brood, and Jenny sends the same. No matter your age, life just gets better and better!
FLM
Dear Fred,
Thanks for your kind wishes. It was great seeing you at your 35th. So glad you enjoyed your special weekend.
Hope to see you soon, lots of love to Jenny.
Richard
Richard,
Your birthday was not only a milestone but was a wonderful simple family celebration. Tony Schwartz hit the nail on the head. With our busy lifestyles we often forget to take the time and “smell the roses” as they say. After all we have been through you realize it is the simple moments in life that provide the most pleasure. As the world becomes more complicated it is imperative that we make the effort to simplify life or should we not have to make an effort, just enjoy.
We have many milestones approaching our way and I await them with great excitement because there is nothing more important in life than celebrating the good and “simple” times with family and friends.
Happy 60th!
Love Barry
P.S. My anxiety of you turning 60 has passed I know that I will approach my 60th in the simplest of manners.
P.P.S. Next topic – Integrated Cancer Care!
To my fabulous brother,
Thanks for your kind words, and great messages. I had a wonderful celebration with our family. My only cause for concern is that it appears that you are still, and will always be, younger than me.
Love Richard
Dean Reznick.
Many thanks for getting down and personal about the “big” birthday. I joined this club almost 5 years ago and I am sorry to say that our money talk in the house revolves around pensions! I am very blessed to enjoy good health and I hope your health is fine because good health allows me to savour the benefits you mentioned, and for me the added delight of 4 grandchildren. Be well and “young” and keep up the personal blogs.
John Arber
Dear John,
Many thanks.
Richard
Congrats! I hope you took the time to celebrate the milestone with your family.
Do you find that people forget their age after a while? After all, what’s the difference between 23 and 24, or 36 and 37? From 17-21, each year is a milestone, but after 21, milestones are decades apart. I think this might be part of why some folks don’t like to discuss their age, because when people ask, they’re probably embarrassed at the fact that they forgot themselves.
P.S. Like Barry above me, I would also like to advocate for your next blog topic, a proposal of which is in your email inbox. OIPEP and I anxiously await your response!
Dear Ralph,
Thanks so much for your kind wishes,
Richard